As Rey took her first steps into learning the ways of the Force in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a couple familiar voices started guiding her down the path to becoming an honest to goodness Jedi. One of those voices was that of Master Yoda – the diminutive, but mighty Jedi who was there when the Empire rose, and helped bring about its fall. Well, if this new rumor is true, we might be seeing more of Master Yoda during Rey's journey of enlightenment in Star Wars Episode VIII.
Something important to keep in mind is the fact that the possibility of Yoda's return is, in fact, a very speculative rumor that Making Star Wars has brought to the attention of the internet. They do this based on the fact that Frank Oz has been spotted at those familiar Star Wars stomping grounds, the Pinewood Studios in England. Apparently, Oz is working in some sort of capacity on the very same grounds that Star Wars: Episode VIII is being filmed on, so there's a good chance that we may not have seen the last of the tiny powerhouse that took on an Emperor, and lived to tell the tale.
If the rumors are true, and Yoda does make an appearance in Star Wars: Episode VIII, the possibilities for future cameos by other long gone Jedi masters are endless. Obviously, the ghosts of the past are still out active in the world of Star Wars, as the infamous sequence at Maz Kanata's hideout showed us that not only was Yoda speaking to Rey, but three different versions of Obi Wan Kenobi as well. Take these scenarios, and bundle them with the fact that it was once rumored that we'd see both a dark and light Force ghost of Anakin Skywalker, and the shadows of the past start to loom ever greater.
Of course, if Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, and Obi-Wan can all come back to the Star Wars universe as Force ghosts, then there's a good possibility that some much belated justice could be done by the character of Qui-Gon Jinn, as his spirit could return once again. With Liam Neeson previously reprising his role as the maverick Jedi master in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, his enthusiasm for playing the role that saw him depart as quickly as he came could lead to a more extended presence for the man who literally started it all.
Should Frank Oz's Yoda return for Star Wars: Episode VIII, the ties between the past and the future of the Star Wars saga will only get stronger. While it's an action that threatens to awaken the rancor of folks who felt that Star Wars: The Force Awakens was nothing more than a clever remake of Star Wars: A New Hope, it could become an interesting gesture if done with the right approach. For now though, we'll continue to wonder what Frank Oz is doing at Pinewood Studios, as well as how long it'll take for some sort of official confirmation / denial of the legendary Muppeteer's involvement in that galaxy far, far away.
