Star Wars: Episode VII: This Is What Luke Skywalker Has Been Up To Recently
This article is more than 2 years old
Over the last few days it feels like all I’ve written about is Star Wars: Episode VII. Between connections to Star Wars: Rebels, set photos of that one ship, and those even newer set photos of that badass other ship (see, I’m trying to be a good sport and not spoil anything above the jump), there’s been quite a bit to discuss. And that continues, as we’ve heard some possible news about whereabouts one of the returning franchise vets who may be missing in action (if you’ve kept up with the scuttlebutt, you know who I’m talking about).
As per usual, there are possible SPOILERS for Episode VII beyond this point. You’ve been warned, continue with caution. Also, take what you read beyond here with a grain of salt. Nothing is official, and nothing is likely to become official until we actually see the damn movie on December 18, 2015. Keep that in mind.
First off, I want to say that I have no idea who This Is Infamous is. I’ve never even heard of the website until now, but they claim to have sources close to the production feeding them info, and what they have to say is interesting, and sounds like it could very well fit with other reports we’ve encountered, so it’s worth talking about. Then again, they could just be hit whoring and talking out of their ass. I’m sure you don’t need to be told this, but approach this with a healthy dose of skepticism.
There have been numerous reports that, in the time between Return of the Jedi and Episode VII, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) has gone missing, and that much of the plot involves Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Han Solo, and Chewbacca searching for him. Some have even said that he has been incommunicado since almost immediately after the Battle of Endor, and some have implied he’s been kidnapped and is being held prisoner. According to this latest report, however, neither of those is the case.
Here’s what the report says:
From what I’ve been told, Luke hasn’t been missing for a full 30 years, only about 10, with his early time post-RETURN OF THE JEDI being spent rebuilding the Jedi Order. Yeah, Luke had some things to do, in order to help get things back on track after the fall of the Empire. In addition, he has grown so powerful with his command of the Force that he can literally move mountains or bring down ships with merely a glance.
But then Luke begins to feel a disturbance in the Force… and starts to feel the lure of the Dark Side. If word about the Emperor’s resurgence is true, I believe his presence and desire to court young Skywalker once again is the root of this new evil. Because he knows just what a danger he would be if successfully convinced to switch sides, Luke goes into a self-imposed exile and disappears.
Luke hanging around post-Endor and trying to rebuild the Jedi sounds more in line with what we all expected to happen in the wake of Jedi. We’ve been trying to wrap our brains around the fact that he’s gone, plus what appears to be hints that the Empire is still a thing (last we heard, there was a kind of Cold War between the Republic and the remains of the Empire, who still control some smaller, outlying worlds, which also sounds like a feasible option: just because they faced a major set back doesn’t mean they’re down for the count).
It would also make sense that if the Emperor, or even some other faction of the Dark Side, is still out there, that they might make a play for the most powerful Jedi in the land. It’s like teams courting LeBron James in free agency. He may not bite, but sometimes you have to go fishing.
And if this report is true, and he’s in hiding, there’s the question of where’s he going to go where nobody will find him. The answer: Dagobah, the old stomping grounds of his Jedi master Yoda.
The report says, “Luke Skywalker relocates to Yoda’s old home planet, and that is where he will be found and reunited with his old lightsaber by friends both old and new.” Again, that seems to mesh with other reports, that new friends Ridley and Boyega find his wayward lightsaber and, along with old compatriots Han and Chewie, go searching for the absentee Jedi. Dagobah isn’t totally new or shocking, it’s been bandied about many times as a possible hide out for Luke, after all, it’s out of the way, gross and dank, and no one really has any reason to go there unless they’re trying not to be found by someone.
We’ll have to wait and see if any of this pans out, but it does fit in with what we’ve already heard. What do you think? Is this believable? Do you think it will go down like this? Do you even care at this point? We’re a long way away from actual film, not to mention that we’ve heard so much, who the hell knows what to believe. Maybe you’re sick of all the talk. Whatever your feelings, prepare yourselves, because we’ve still got like 15 months of this to go, and it’s only going to get worse.
