Convincing 'Star Wars' Theory Says Luke Skywalker Died Before Latest Trilogy

With just about four months until the final Star Wars episode of the Skywalker Saga debuts, fans are keeping busy theorizing as much as they can based on the one Rise of Skywalker trailer we’ve gotten, and the previous films we’ve all been rewatching in anticipation. As many are trying to figure out how Luke Skywalker will return, one person believes we’ve all been looking at his death and possible resurrection the wrong way. Reddit user 27SwingAndADrive is convinced the beloved character actually died a long time ago.

As ComicBook.com reports, the Redditor believes Luke was killed before the latest trilogy even started, arguing that he was taken out by Kylo Ren (then known as his real name, Ben Solo) when he attacked and killed his classmates at the Jedi Academy. Fans will remember the story we were told: Luke survived and quickly fled, while Ben took on his new identity and turned to the Dark Side. However, this theory says Luke didn’t make it out alive after all, and has been a struggling Force Ghost this whole time.

“Luke didn't know how to turn into a ghost like Yoda and Obi Wan did (never learned that trick), so he was lost in some magical force plain of existence and couldn't really materialize before people,” the Reddit user speculates. “That's why he couldn't save Han, he couldn't kill Snoke, etc. He could only project visions into people's minds in one particular place in the galaxy that is strong with the Force.”

The theorist goes on to say that this would explain why Luke tried to abandon the Force, and why he was reluctant to help Rey and the gang. “Luke Skywalker is not some a*shole that doesn't care about his friends, he's a confused ghost that's disconnected from the universe of the living,” the fan writes.

The possibilities for Luke’s fate are truly endless, but we know his final film in the franchise has to be an absolutely epic conclusion. In the meantime, we’re going to have to do another rewatch of The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi to see how well this theory truly holds up.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters Dec. 20, 2019.