It's a great time to be a Star Wars fan. With Disney now in charge of the beloved property, there is a ton of new and exciting content being produced on both the silver and small screen. The franchise certainly seems to be challenging both itself and the audience, especially with Rian Johnson's subversive sequel Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The next installment is going to be Solo: A Star Wars Story, which will see Alden Ehrenreich take on the role of Han Solo from Harrison Ford. So could the same thing happen to Luke Skywalker? Mark Hamill recently addressed this possibility, saying:
You know, it's amazing to me -- George [Lucas] gave them a canvas so large that they're going to be able to-- I mean, the possibilities are infinite. So who knows? They also ask me 'What young actor do you think could play him?' Sky's the limit. And I'm sure they're going to keep making these things long after I'm gone.
It looks like Mark Hamill is as peace with Lucasfilm taking his signature character wherever they'd like. Given how ambitious the franchise has gotten in recent years, this certainly makes sense. He knows Luke, and he knows what the Star Wars brand means to people.
Mark Hamill's comments to Radio Times make a great deal of sense, given where Luke ended up going in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Rather than the beacon of hope that he represented in the original trilogy, Rian Johnson introduced a Luke that was isolated and jaded regarding humanity and The Force. This was a major adjustment for Hamill to make on set, and he's been vocal about how it wasn't a choice he necessarily agreed with early on.
But it's clear that the Star Wars franchise is only going to get bigger and better, and fans are going to want more of Luke Skywalker. Between standalone movies and Rian Johnson's mysterious trilogy, the possibilities are endless. Some fans are hoping that the cutting edge technology used in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story could be used to bring back a younger Luke, with Mark Hamill possibly voicing the character. Additionally, the use of Force Ghosts in The Last Jedi has some fans hoping Luke would still be a major character in Episode IX, especially after the untimely death of Carrie Fisher.
Regarding the possible recasting of Luke, many have pointed out that Captain America's Sebastian Stan looks like a younger version of the Star Wars actor. Lucasfilm is no doubt looking to the reception of Solo: A Star Wars Story to indicate whether or not fans are ready to see recast versions of classic characters.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is available for home purchase now, and Solo: A Star Wars Story will arrive May 25, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.
