Do we really need ‘Force ghost’ Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode IX?

Skywalker’s story reached a natural end in The Last Jedi. But Disney won’t let a good thing die, and Mark Hamill is due to return, alongside Carrie Fisher

Keep on with the Force … Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars (1977).Is this a real question?

Answer: Yes.

In theory, great Jedi’s never truly die. They merely morph into “Force ghosts” and become, in the words of Sir Alec Guinness’s Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original 1977 Star Wars, “more powerful than you can ever imagine”.

Guinness hung around to offer the odd bit of advice in 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back and 1983’s Return of the Jedi, but he was never essential to the thrust of the narrative in the way he had been before Darth Vader put a lightsaber through his body.

In steps, Anakin Skywalker’s ghost, the slippery devil has only been seen once (in two different forms) since Vader’s death, smiling nervously alongside Yoda and Obi-Wan after the Rebel Alliance’s victory at the Battle of Endor.

Then the ultimate Jedi master, Yoda turning up again in last year’s The Last Jedi, to the delight of fans, but seemed happy to limit himself to winding up a disgruntled Luke (oh, Luke!)

For all its faults, Rian Johnson’s movie had successfully brought Skywalker’s journey to a satisfying conclusion. After a cowardly period in which he chose to close himself off from the Force, following his failure to stop Ben Solo becoming Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Luke redeemed himself by making the ultimate sacrifice to help his friends on Crait, just when they need him the most.

And now, Luke will return in ultimate ghost-form.

What has all the talk about Episode 9 been thus far? Luke’s coming back. Lando’s coming back. Leia’s coming back.

Perhaps Lucasfilm and Disney are simply desperate for one last dance with the stars of the original trilogy, with the return of Fisher (reportedly via previously shot footage.) We all know Rey and Finn and everyone else will be in it, but nobody cares about them. The OT heroes are still the main draw and Lucasfilm knows it.

The simple fact of the matter is that fans still care way more about the original characters than the new ones…

But, the announcement of Hamill’s inclusion suggests something unusual must be afoot. Perhaps he didn’t really die on Ahch-To after all, it was a mere illusion or trick of the light, and Skywalker has been soaking himself in the rays of some sun-drenched planet.

Except that such a scenario would be even more rubbish than yet another atmospheric Force ghost cameo.

And it makes perfect sense for Skywalker to make a cameo as a Force ghost in Episode IX, following a similar path to his forebears.

But the fact that Lucasfilm has announced Hamill so early in the production process of the final episode, suggests the actor will play a key role in the new film.

The question still stands…

Who would you rather have?

Hamill returning?

Or, 20 more minutes of Finn, and Rey sweating?