Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of Disney/Lucasfilm, StarWars.com Databank.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi gave us a cool and only semi-surprising Force cameo that leaves us guessing who will appear as a Force ghost next in Episode IX.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi opened in theaters over the weekend, and if you aren’t one of the people who contributed to its massive opening weekend, then there are SPOILERS ahead.
Luke Skywalker needed a lot of help. That’s not a secret. From the time he was conceived, he drew trouble in like a magnet, often leaving him confused and ready for a dramatic display of emotions wherever possible.
Though Star Wars: The Last Jedi gave him a reason to exile himself — a brief stint as a sociopath is the only legit reason — it also regressed him back to his old, petulant ways seen best in The Empire Strikes Back while he’s on Dagobah whining about lifting an X-Wing out of the swamp water. Thanks to Yoda and Obi-Wan’s ongoing tutelage, one would assume that Luke eventually would grow out of that. But because he didn’t, Yoda must reappear during The Last Jedi to give him another lesson. I mean, it’s fair. There’s always room for growth, so fine.
Now that the sequel trilogy has opened the door for Force ghosts and there are quite a few characters that could use guidance, let’s break down the odds of who we’ll see appear next in Episode IX.
General Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of Disney/Lucasfilm, StarWars.com Databank.
Leia Organa: Absolutely not.
Let’s just assume that anything’s possible, basically. But while Leia would make the perfect mentor (and parallel) for Rey’s journey, she’s not that type of Force user. She can sense stuff and pull herself out of space, but becoming a Force apparition requires different training.
Not to mention, it would require Carrie Fisher to film additional scenes.
Han Solo (Harrison Ford) in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of Disney/Lucasfilm, StarWars.com Databank.
Han Solo: Would require a lot of exposition.
The Last Jedi actually gave Han Solo a lot of attention, especially as it relates to his connection with Kylo Ren and how pieces of Han can be found within the new Supreme Leader. However, explaining how the guy who didn’t totally buy into the hokey religion until he was much older became so in tune with it that he could be a Force ghost … it doesn’t work. The most we’ll ever get out of Force ghost Han would be the dice that Luke projects to Crait for Leia and Kylo.
Also, that would require Harrison Ford to shoot additional scenes. It’s more likely that Carrie Fisher will rise from the grave than Harrison will return to the franchise.
Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of Disney/Lucasfilm, StarWars.com Databank.
Luke Skywalker: Most likely.
This is the one that makes the most sense. Just as Ben Kenobi was struck down and became more helpful to Luke as a part of the Force, Luke will probably be more helpful to Rey after his death. All that training he didn’t give on Ahch-To can be delivered in Episode IX. In his final confrontation with Kylo Ren, he also mentions that if Kylo Ren cuts him down in anger, Luke will always stay with him. (Which could mean a lot of things, including Luke’s growing excitement to annoy Kylo in the afterlife.)
Plus, the dude really needs to apologize to Rey. He apologized to Kylo Ren and should strive to make a better impression on the last Jedi.
Yoda (Frank Oz) in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Image Courtesy of Disney/Lucasfilm, StarWars.com Databank.
Yoda: Already spent that dollar.
He has no connection to Rey or Kylo Ren and we saw him already, so we’re good there.
Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Image Courtesy of Disney/Lucasfilm, StarWars.com Databank.
Mace Windu: Make Finn relevant again, please.
Finn is cool, alright? He’s just not doing anything cool. In The Force Awakens, we enjoyed this really cool Stormtrooper aesthetic and met a guy who could’ve been Force-sensitive. Unfortunately, The Last Jedi didn’t do much with Finn and has left it to Episode IX to leave a lasting impression on the audience beyond his familiarity with mopping. The fastest way to do this is for a visit from Mace Windu: Force Apparition Edition.
I can just see it now. Mace visits Finn in his sleep, scares the crap out of him, then explains that the Force is dormant in Finn, but there nonetheless. J.J. Abrams will use the opportunity to write in a quick, “Are you my daddy joke?” and Samuel L. Jackson will not play ball and it will be hilarious.
You’re welcome, J.J.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Image Courtesy of Disney/Lucasfilm, StarWars.com Databank.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Mmm, no.
You can’t shoot with Alec Guinness, that’s number one. And they’re not going to bring in Ewan McGregor for this right now because they should be saving him for his own standalone film. Plus, he got his cameo in The Force Awakens with the little voiceover at Maz Kanata’s castle.
Though it wouldn’t be completely bonkers to see him there, it’s just a little unnecessary.
Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Image Courtesy of Disney/Lucasfilm, StarWars.com Databank.
Snoke: LOL.
I’m including him because he served next to no purpose in either The Force Awakens or The Last Jedi. Like Han Solo, his death was used as a stepping stone as Kylo Ren descended into darkness and he opened the link between Kylo Ren and Rey, ultimately baiting Rey to the throne room. But otherwise, all of that could’ve occurred without Snoke anyway.
So he deserves a real glory moment in Episode IX. It’s really a waste of Andy Serkis’ talents, and I would totally like to know where he came from. Yes, I know we didn’t know anything about the Emperor in the original trilogy either, but come on. Let him troll Hux.
Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Image Courtesy of Disney/Lucasfilm, StarWars.com Databank.
Anakin Skywalker: If we’re lucky, since it would be the best possible cameo.
Anakin Skywalker was redeemed.
And this is the biggest flaw in Kylo Ren’s pursuit of power. He wants to finish what his grandfather started (he specifically says “grandfather” and not Darth Vader when he’s talking to the mask in The Force Awakens) but won’t acknowledge that it was Darth Vader who ended the Emperor’s reign and fulfilled the prophecy. So either Kylo Ren is stupid, or he’s the best double agent of all time and has planned to dismantle the First Order from within since the very beginning.
Either way, nobody understands the turmoil within better than Anakin Skywalker. His path as the Chosen One and his bloodline altered the course of history in the galaxy. Moreover, Hayden Christensen remains a huge part of Star Wars. From his appearance at Star Wars Celebration Orlando and his inclusion in A New Hope, it would be so easy to place him in Star Wars again as a Force ghost.
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We deserve it. Anakin deserves it. And so do Ben Solo and Rey, depending on who he chooses to appear to.