Ricky Church delves into the legend of Luke Skywalker for the 40th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi...
it goes without sayingStar warsgave us some of pop culture's most memorable characters, from Princess Leia, Emperor Palpatine and Yoda to newer characters like Rey, Ahsoka Tano, Din Djarin and Darth Maul. And while the franchise has made the angry Han Solo or the menacing Darth Vader household names, its central hero Luke Skywalker is foremost among the series' greatest characters.
One of the reasons for this is because of the hero's journey that Luke takes throughout the original trilogy, and specifically how it culminates inReturn of the Jediand avoids typical tropes found in heroic 'chosen' narratives. AsReturn of the Jedicelebrates its 40th anniversary - and close to the originalStar warsfor decades – it's important to remember why Luke Skywalker is one of fiction's greatest heroes.
As George Lucas originally envisionedStar warsin the early 1970s, which went through many iterations, including the title Journal of the Whills and Luke being named Luke Starkiller, he based many of his ideas on a sci-fi scene from an Akira Kurosawa samurai film or classic adventure from adventures involving ancient warriors, evil wizards and rescuing a princess. In the movie that ended up beingA new hope, Luke Skywalker is a seemingly ordinary farmer who becomes involved in adventure and begins his training to become a Jedi Knight, an ancient and defunct order that drew on the mystical force to use his powers for good.
Luke's journey originally followed the hero's journey tropes that are the template for countless movies: a hero meets a wise old master who trains them to be a warrior, the master is lost and leaves the hero to fend for himself, then they overcome adversity and triumph in the evil face, are recognized and rewarded by all as the hero they are. After that, though, Lucas practically threw away the hero's book.
Instead of achieving victory after victory after single-handedly destroying the Death Star, Luke Skywalker is put through grueling tests. Even when Yoda is 900 years old, Yoda is no sloppy teacher and does not go easy on Luke, making us see Luke's stubborn and myopic nature inThe Empire strikes backas he is unwilling to listen to Force philosophy and Jedi ways. Although he decides to rush through his training with the noble goal of saving his friends, Luke is utterly defeated and humiliated in his battle with Darth Vader. Of course, Luke shows how powerful and capable he already is at this point, as Vader is "very impressed" by Luke's power - see how Vader stops joking with Luke and starts taking the fight seriously when Luke really starts to get advantage. Still, it's rare to see a hero so broken down, both physically and mentally, when Luke learns the horrible truth that Darth Vader is his father.
When Luke arrives at Jabba's palace inReturn of the Jedi, it looks like your journey is back on track. He's older, wiser and still stronger than when we last saw him. In fact, what separates Luke from other heroes is that we see different versions of him in each character.Star warsfilm, from naive young farmer to trainee and skilled warrior. Jabba's Palace is a perfect example of his growth as he doesn't blindly rush into the fray like he did in Cloud City, but has an intricate plan with multiple backup plans to save Han Solo. While most heroes would fight Jabba's henchmen, violence is Luke's last resort as he gives Jabba several opportunities to end the conflict peacefully and hand Han over.
On that note, rememberReturn of the Jediwas released in the early 80s. This comes out of a series of films such asDirty HarryeDeath wishwhere the protagonists show little hesitation in dispatching evildoers by any means necessary, even if it means breaking the law or throwing away their code of honor to do so. In the film era of the 80s, this type of protagonist also became more popular. Last yearJedisaw the launch of the firstrambofilmFirst bloodand its sequels would see John Rambo become a highly skilled fighter who showed no qualms about killing bad guys. Arnold Schwarzenegger built his career as this kind of macho heroConan Barbarians,CommandoeThe predator.
Not to mention the start of other tough guy franchises likeRoboCop,Deadly weaponor the continuationDeath wishthroughout that decade. Obviously, these are R-rated movies and are not intended for a younger audience asStar wars, but even some family-friendly movies have had heroes cross the line, like Superman throwing Zod off a cliff with a smile on his face inSuperman IIor Batman killing the Joker and several of his henchmen at the climax ofbat Man. It just emphasizes the tendency for heroes and protagonists to be braver and a bit more ruthless in the film.
It is therefore remarkable how Luke's journey subverts the action hero archetype in favor of something far more personal and moving. One would expect an epic final battle between good and evil at the endStar warsmovie, and while the Battle of Endor is certainly epic in space and on Earth, the rematch between Luke and Vader is much more character-focused, as Luke uses compassion as his main weapon and appeals to the man Darth Vader used to be. to the dark side of the force. It's much more about the battle for Anakin Skywalker's soul than a no-holds-barred battle between mortal enemies.
It is in this instance where Vader manages to anger Luke enough to attack him with everything he has, which is not treated as a moment of evil, but where we get to see the hero truly fall into evil itself, he fights against. Everything about the scene screams tragedy, from the ferocious way Luke fights to the John Williams score, which isn't epic fanfare but low, sweeping choral music reminiscent of the Palpatine theme.
The look of horror on Luke's face when he realizes what he's done and how close he came to succumbing to the dark side speaks volumes and leads to one of the most heroic things Luke does in the entire franchise: throwing his lightsaber away, to refuse. to fight. and play Palpatine's game further in his belief that he is a Jedi Knight. It is this act, along with Palpatine's revenge, that spurs the last embers of Anakin Skywalker to rise again and save Luke from the Emperor's wrath.
This act of non-violence is at the heart of Luke's entire arc in the original trilogy. It's what Yoda preached about how the Jedi only use the force for defense and what a slippery slope it is to the dark side. The fact that it makes Darth Vader, one of the most evil and menacing characters in all of fiction, redeem himself a little is another huge twist that the franchise has given. It shows how subversive Luke's story was, as it certainly didn't end with Luke destroying Vader and the Emperor in a one-on-one duel, but using the wisdom he gained from his past failures and experiences to usher in a new era .
Of course, Lucas' story didn't end thereReturn of the Jedibut continued into the Sequel Trilogy under the guidance of directors J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson. While some may bemoan how Luke's arc was handled in theThe Last Jedi, is consistent with his character and the larger themes ofStar wars, specifically the self-redemption. Luke's journey can even be compared to that of his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi with how devastated they both were by the loss of their padawan to the dark side, except in Luke's case he played a much bigger role in Ben Solo's downfall than Obi- Wan did to Anakin.
Whatever role Palpatine played in the shadows in creating Kylo Ren, Luke still felt responsible for falling into the same trap he did with Vader, letting his fear get the best of him for a brief moment where it was everything, Ben saw. Yet his history goes back toReturn of the Jedias Luke rejoins the fight in a final act of sacrifice and non-violence, preventing the First Order and Kylo Ren from defeating the Resistance without a single blow from his lightsaber. As much as Luke was a tormented quaver to mostThe Last Jedi, its final moments saw the return of the Jedi we all know and love.
ComReturn of the Jediis celebrating its 40th anniversary, and its legacy lies in how Luke Skywalker's arc cements his hero status. The subversion of typical epic, action and macho heroes in the climax, when Luke chooses to practice non-violence and mercy towards his enemy, choosing to believe in the best of Darth Vader, presented him as one of pop culture's greatest fictional heroes interpreted perfectly. by Mark Hamill overStar warssaga.
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FAQs
How old is Luke in Episode 4? ›
†Older sources put Luke and Leia at either 18 or 20 years old at the time of Episode IV, but we now know that they are born in Episode III, which takes places 19 years before.
How long will Return of the Jedi be in theaters 2023? ›Screenings for Return of the Jedi in the US will take place April 28 – May 4, and April 28 – May 1 in the UK. Stay tuned to StarWars.com for updates on other regions and dates. Epic Stories.
How old was Luke when he died? ›According to ancient sources, St. Luke was martyred at age 84 in the Greek city of Thebes. His remains were taken to Constantinople about 338 CE and later moved to Padua, Italy, where they are kept in the Basilica of Santa Giustina. A rib is interred at his original burial place in Thebes.
What happened to Luke Skywalker after episode 6? ›Though Luke dies at the end of The Last Jedi, he returns as a Force spirit in The Rise of Skywalker, encouraging Rey to face her grandfather, the resurrected Emperor Palpatine. At the end of the film, the spirits of Luke and Leia give Rey their blessing to adopt the Skywalker surname and continue their family's legacy.
How old was Anakin when he died? ›While it seemed like Anakin had lived a long life, his choices eventually led to his demise at the age of 45. Though half of his life was filled with tragedy, he managed to make things right with the time he had and gained a Jedi burial that had him reunite with his old Master and Yoda.
How much older is Han than Leia? ›Fun facts also worth mentioning: Han Solo happens to be 10 years older than twins Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa.
What all Star Wars content is coming in 2023? ›| Release Date | Project | Type |
|---|---|---|
| August 2023 | Ahsoka season 1 | Live-action series |
| 2023 | Skeleton Crew season 1 | Live-action series |
| 2024 | The Acolyte season 1 | Live-action series |
| August 2024 | Andor season 2 | Live-action series |
Why is May the 4th Star Wars Day? Fans celebrate Star Wars Day on 'May the 4th' because it sounds similar to the classic catchphrase, “May the force be with you,” which was first heard in "Star Wars: A New Hope."
What age is Return of the Jedi appropriate for? › Who is Anakin's father? ›Anakin Skywalker is the son of Shmi Skywalker, born without a father through the Force. He is the secret husband of Padmé Amidala, the father of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, the father-in-law of Han Solo, and the maternal grandfather of Ben Solo.
Who is Luke Skywalker's son? ›
Ben Skywalker was one of the main protagonists in the Legacy of the Force and Fate of the Jedi series. The son of Grand Master Luke Skywalker and Jedi Master Mara Jade Skywalker, Ben was named for his father's late mentor Obi Wan Kenobi.
Who is Luke Skywalker's wife? ›It was believed that Grogu would eventually become a victim of Kylo Ren's destruction of Luke's Jedi Order. However, The Book of Boba Fett revealed that Grogu chose to follow the Way of the Mandalorian rather than become a Jedi, sparing him from Kylo Ren's wrath.
Who killed Kylo Ren? ›Kylo Ren dies on Kef Bir (the ocean moon of Endor) shortly after Rey deals a mortal wound during a lightsaber duel on the wreckage of the second Death Star. Though Rey Force-heals him, saving his life physically, this blow, coupled with the memory of his mother and father, destroys the man known as “Kylo Ren” forever.
Was Anakin's father a Jedi? ›Padmé was born in 46 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) and Anakin's miraculous Force-created birth came in 41 BBY, so Padmé is five years older than him. They do not meet until Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, which takes place in 32 BBY.
How old was Yoda when he died? ›Yoda claims to have been training Jedi for 800 years. The second time Yoda mentions his long life is in Return of the Jedi, when he tells Luke, “When you reach 900 years old, you will not look as good as you will.” If we take Yoda at his word, that means the Jedi Master died at the ripe old age of 900.
Did Han and Leia have 3 kids? ›Han Solo marries Princess Leia and they have three children: twins named Jacen and Jaina, and a younger son named Anakin.
What was the age difference between Anakin and Padme? ›Padmé was born in the year 46 BBY on Naboo, and Anakin was born five years later, in the year 41 BBY. That makes Padmé five years older than Anakin.
How is Maul alive in Solo? ›Thought dead, Darth Maul survived his injuries by focusing on his hatred of Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Jedi who cut him in half. His shattered body was dumped amid the refuse of the junk planet Lotho Minor, where the once deadly warrior fell into madness, staying alive on a diet of vermin.
Will there be Star Wars 10? ›
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has said the three new Star Wars films are "pretty far along" in development, so we will likely see them coming soon. New Jedi Order is scheduled for a 2027 release, but it's simply too soon to start the franchise in movies again.
What will the 2025 Star Wars movie be? ›Star Wars: Lost Horizons.
How old is Grogu? ›Backstory. A member of the same species as the Star Wars character Yoda, he is 50 years old during the events of The Mandalorian "Chapter 1: The Mandalorian", but still appears to be an infant because of the pace at which that species matures.
Is May 6th a Sith day? ›On May 5, fans celebrate Revenge of the Fifth, a play on the title of the sixth movie in the series, Revenge of the Sith. Some Star Wars enthusiasts celebrate it on May 6 stating that Revenge of the Sixth sounds much closer to the original movie name.
What was Luke Skywalker's original name? ›Why did George Lucas change Luke Skywalker's name? So why was it decided to make the change from Luke Starkiller to Luke Skywalker? Well, apart from the fact that Skywalker sounds so much better, Lucas apparently thought the original last name was too aggressive.
Who was Yoda modeled after? ›However, the hypothesis has been flatly denied by people who worked on the film—the true inspiration for Yoda was Albert Einstein. It's also widely documented that Lucas drew from several philosophies and religious traditions while making the films, including Zoroastrianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Manichaeism, and Stoicism.
Are Jedi allowed to have kids? ›Although the 2002 film Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones established that the Jedi Order members couldn't marry or have children, Star Wars creator George Lucas explained that despite their monastic regime, the Jedi were permitted to have sexual intercourse as long they didn't form attachments or possessive ...
Is Star Wars OK for 7 year old? ›Most parents—at least those who, like me, are inordinately attached to Star Wars—felt that around four to seven years old was the sweet spot. At that age, most children have sufficient attention span to sit down and follow a feature-length story.
Is mandalorian ok for 7 year old? ›The Mandalorian is rated TV-14 for intense violence and language which means some content is not appropriate for kids under 14 years old.
Who is the strongest Jedi? ›Master Yoda has risen above all others to claim the top spot as the most powerful Jedi of all time and the true chosen one according to IGN's audience. He won pretty handily as well, as he was victorious in 89,756 of his 95,243 battles and had a win percentage of 94.2%.
Who is the father of Rey? ›
In a new excerpt, it's revealed that the names of Rey's parents are Dathan and Miramir. Dathan is the dad and Miramir the mother, if you were wondering; it's not always clear with these names from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
Who is Anakin's first child? ›Anakin is married to Padmé Amidala Naberrie, the former Queen of Naboo, who later became an outspoken senator in the Galactic Senate; their wedding is kept secret as the Jedi Code forbids attachments. Anakin and Padmé have two children together: they are named Luke and Leia.
Why did Leia name her son Ben? ›So, even when she eventually learns his real name, Leia always associated the Jedi Master with Ben rather than Obi-Wan. Inspired by this, it makes sense that she decided to name her son Ben Solo — after Ben Kenobi.
Is Rey a descendant of Luke? ›At the end of The Rise of Skywalker, the title of the movie becomes apparent. While the Skywalker bloodline is technically gone, Rey honors her fallen mentors, Luke and Leia, by adopting their family name.
Why did Leia kiss Luke? ›Following the Wampa attack during the movie's opening scenes on Hoth; Leia, Han, and Chewie visit Luke in the infirmary. Leia is annoyed with Han, who insists she has feelings for him, so she kisses Luke to prove she doesn't. Presumably, the scene was simply meant to make Han jealous.
Who is Luke's lover? ›Undoubtedly, his greatest love was with a character named Mara Jade. Mara is a strong character as a part of the expanded universe of the Star Wars Legends series of novels. Their love is so strong that Luke winds up marrying her, and she bears a son that they name Ben (not Ben Solo).
Are Luke and Rey siblings? ›At the end of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Rey visited Luke's childhood home on Tatooine. While on the planet, when someone asked her who she was, Rey responded by saying that she was "Rey Skywalker." Although she wasn't related to them, both Luke and Leia had been mentors to Rey throughout the sequel trilogy.
Are Luke and Rey brother and sister? ›Powerfully Force-sensitive, Rey trains to be a Jedi under siblings Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, and faces adversaries such as Kylo Ren, Supreme Leader Snoke and the resurrected Emperor Palpatine—who is revealed to be her grandfather in The Rise of Skywalker.
Was Grogu killed by KYLO Ren? ›While fans don't know the state of Grogu's well-being in the sequel trilogy, his ties to Mandalore might explain why Kylo Ren doesn't kill him. It's likely Grogu stays with Din Djarin and the Mandalorians, and never returns to embark on his training with Luke.
Is Grogu related to Yoda? ›Is Grogu Yoda? According to the events of "The Mandalorian" so far, Grogu and Yoda are not the same character. They are simply from the same species. The name of this species has never been revealed since "Star Wars" creator George Lucas wanted to give Yoda a sense of mystery.
Who is the female Yoda? ›
The quiet Yaddle was a member of the same mysterious species as the revered Jedi Master Yoda. Yaddle sat on the Jedi Council with her fellow green-skinned diminutive Force-user. By the time of the Clone Wars, she was no longer on the Council.
Is Rey pregnant with Ben's baby? ›She does not have a baby bump, her hand never goes to her stomach to indicate she's carrying a child, and there wasn't exactly any time for her to have conceived a child with anyone in the course of the film, including Kylo Ren/Ben Solo.
Who is Princess Leia's son Kylo? ›The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ben Solo was seduced by the dark side of the Force and renamed himself Kylo Ren: leader of the Knights of Ren, champion of the First Order, and apprentice to Supreme Leader Snoke. Driven to destroy the past, Kylo killed his father and his master, supplanting Snoke as Supreme Leader.
Why is Rey's lightsaber yellow? ›A crystal embodies the Jedi as the heart of the lightsaber, and pure kyber has no color until it's bonded to the Force user. This process likely resulted in Rey Skywalker's lightsaber being yellow.
Did Yoda know Luke was Anakin's son? ›Yoda. Yoda's knowledge of Luke Skywalker's true parentage was also confirmed in Return of the Jedi. As with Obi-Wan, Yoda believed that Anakin's fall to the dark side made him unsalvageable, with the Darth Vader persona being his only identity following his ascension to Sith Lordship.
Does Anakin ever see his mom again? ›Anakin saw his mother again in a Force vision around 21 BBY on Mortis. The vision was induced by the Son, one of the powerful Force-wielders controlling the planet, through which the current of the Force flowed.
Did Palpatine see Anakin as a son? ›Some have believed for years that Palpatine was revealing that Anakin was his "son." However, this is not the case, as Matt Martin clears up again. He explains. "He doesn't literally say that. It can certainly be inferred, but he doesn't say it.
How old is Luke in Episode 5? ›Return of the Jedi then took place a year after its predecessor so Luke was 23 years old when the Rebels put an end to the Empire following the Battle of Endor.
Why does Luke look different in Episode 5? ›He had to have some of his ear put into his nose. So they adjusted the film with this snow monster to right away in the movie scratch his face to account for his looks being different." There are images from a deleted scene floating around that shows Luke's face in bandages.
Is Luke as old as Ezra? ›Two days older than Luke. It's been established that Ezra was born on “Empire Day”, the day Palpatine changed the Republic to the Empire in 19 BBY. Luke on the other hand, was born two days after Empire Day, so Ezra is two days older.
How old is Luke from 2 live crew? ›
How strong was Luke in Episode 6? ›Lucas mentioned in the directors commentary that Luke was as strong as Dooku (though not necessarily as skilled with a lightsaber) when he was brought before Palpatine.
How old is Luke Skywalker in Episode 8? ›The events of "The Rescue" take place in approximately 9ABY, meaning Luke Skywalker is 28-years-old in The Mandalorian season 2, episode 8.
Does Luke appear in Episode 7? ›While Mark Hamill appeared in a brief, non-speaking role in Star Wars: Episode VII's final moments, the Luke Skywalker actor says he worked harder behind the scenes than he did on-screen.
Why does Luke have a scar? ›The only thing unsettling about Luke's appearance was a thick, deep pale scar that ran from the bottom of his eye down to his chin caused by Ladon, the guardian dragon of the Garden of the Hesperides.
Was Luke supposed to be a girl? ›"Luke was originally a female character," the "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" creator explained. "[The network] came to me and said we need another guy, so I literally just took a character and changed the name. [I] didn't even change any of the dialogue because I'm that lazy."
Why does Luke have a scar on his face? ›This is where the story gets hazy. In the opening scene of "The Empire Strikes Back," Skywalker's face is scratched after being attacked by a Wampa, which digs its claws into his face and then drags Skywalker and his Tauntaun back to its cave.
Why does Leia seem older than Luke? ›LONDON: Star Wars twins Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia would actually be different ages due to Einstein's theory of relativity, with Luke being 1.75 years younger than Leia, researchers, including one of Indian-origin, have discovered.
Was Anakin too old to be a Jedi? ›Yoda had grave misgivings about the potential student brought before him by maverick Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. Nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker was indeed strong in the Force, but he was too old to begin training. Already, Skywalker had a deep emotional attachment to his mother, and was filled with fear of losing her.
What was Luke's original last name? ›Why did George Lucas change Luke Skywalker's name? So why was it decided to make the change from Luke Starkiller to Luke Skywalker? Well, apart from the fact that Skywalker sounds so much better, Lucas apparently thought the original last name was too aggressive.
How old is trick daddy? ›
Does Uncle Luke have kids? ›Luther Roderick Campbell II, the son of famous rap artist Uncle Luke of 2 Live Crew, appeared before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer, Wednesday.
Who is Uncle Luke married to? ›