If you're wondering if Mark Hamill will ever reprise his role as a Force ghost of Luke Skywalker, don't get your hopes up. The iconic actor has definitively closed the door on returning to the legendary sci-fi saga, stating it's time for Star Wars to look beyond legacy characters and embrace its future.
In an interview with ComicBook.com promoting his latest film, *The Life of Chuck*, Hamill was asked about potentially appearing as Luke’s Force ghost in the upcoming Rey-centric movie, *New Jedi Order*. His response was an emphatic no, citing that Luke symbolically left his Jedi robes behind in 2017's *The Last Jedi*.
“I remain incredibly grateful to George [Lucas] for including me in that original journey, back in what he fondly called the era of 'the most expensive low-budget movie ever made,'” Hamill reflected.
"We never imagined it would evolve into a permanent franchise and a cornerstone of pop culture. But for me, that chapter is complete. I'm thankful for the experience, yet I firmly believe the focus should now be on the future and its new generation of characters," he continued.
“Besides, when my character vanished in [*The Last Jedi*], I deliberately left my robes behind. There's absolutely no chance you'll see me appear as a Force ghost without them.”
Rey, however, is confirmed to return in the Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy-directed follow-up to the critically panned *Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker*. The film will chart Rey's journey as she attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order approximately 15 years after the events of that movie.
Details on *New Jedi Order* remain scarce. In January 2024, Ridley offered a slight hint in an interview with AlloCiné, saying: "Once I understood the story, I knew it was a project I truly wanted to pursue. I believe it offers a really exciting exploration of the Star Wars universe, taking the narrative in a fresh and intriguing direction."
In the nearer future, *The Mandalorian & Grogu* is scheduled for a 2026 release, while Shawn Levy's *Star Wars: Starfighter*, featuring Ryan Gosling, is slated for 2027.
Every Upcoming Star Wars Movie and TV Show
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During the 2023 Star Wars Celebration, Lucasfilm announced three new Star Wars feature films: a New Republic film set within Dave Filoni's Mando-verse, James Mangold's *Dawn of the Jedi* origins movie, and the aforementioned *New Jedi Order*.
While the landscape of upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows is still subject to change, one thing is certain: Mark Hamill making a comeback as a Force ghost Luke Skywalker will not be part of those plans.
