Remember that big, very spoilery STAR WARS: EPISODE VII rumor from last month? The rumor surfaced over at Making Star Wars, and the site has shared some new details related to their original report. I know I'm being vague, but the rumor from last month and this new information are both major spoilers, and the last thing I would want to do is ruin STAR WARS: EPISODE VII for anyone.
You know how this works by now, right? I'll meet back up with you after the spoiler buffer.
So Making Stars Wars' scoop from last month was the villain in STAR WARS: EPISODE VII will be Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker, and the site has now posted new information about the character's mental state in the J.J. Abrams film.
I’m told that in the back story for the film, Luke Skywalker does something amazing with the Force. He’s really powerful, more of “wizard than lightsaber wielding warrior.” Basically, Luke Skywalker has a “Force Unleashed” moment and realizes he might be bad for the universe. The aftermath of that event is difficult for Luke. Luke Skywalker has become the most powerful Jedi ever, but he doesn’t believe he’s the wisest. He doesn’t want to make the mistake his father made by thinking he knows what’s right for the universe. Skywalker becomes somewhat deranged in his seclusion. He is consumed by his fear that if he should return to “society” his power could be misused, he could be manipulated, and he may accidentally hurt the one’s he loves.
For these reasons, to protect the galaxy and himself, Luke retreats into self-imposed exile for many years. I’m told he can’t always control the power. While he sits in a meditative state, he levitates things unconsciously and he’s not always in complete control and he’s never sure if he’s doing the will of the Force or acting on his own passions. Luke is seeing the past, the present, the future, “old friends long gone” and other things that prey upon his sanity. For most of Luke’s appearance in Star Wars: Episode VII, it is questionable if his madness will result in evil. Not even those that have known him for most of his life know if he’s sane or not. However, the villain and the new hero both draw Skywalker out and he’s forced to intervene in the galactic conflict. The imbalance he feared bringing back to the galaxy is set into motion by the new evil. But it is not only evil that brings Luke Skywalker out of exile. The good in the universe does as well when one of the heroes convinces him the place he is in is not where he belongs.
Making Star Wars also says "By the last act of the film, it is clear where Luke falls on spectrum of good and evil," and Luke Skywalker is described as “creepy and frightening in appearance” because you apparently "can see 'the fire in his eyes' behind his grizzled appearance during some scenes." But don't worry, the site goes on to say Luke will likely "atone with his place and power in the galaxy," and "by the end of the film, he apparently does, and our new heroes have a mentor to take on the old evil that has infected the galaxy during Skywalker’s absence."
It's certainly an interesting route to take with Luke Skywalker, and I think it could work. Many fans said they didn't like the idea of Skywalker being a villain, however I think most would be down with the character worried he's going to end up like his father. Maybe it'll be hinted Luke is at least a little in touch with his dark side and he's a gone a bit crazy, but I'm glad it's not looking like he'll be a straight-up evil bastard in the film. This is only a rumor though, so don't get too pissy or pumped about where Luke Skywalker's head might be at in STAR WARS: EPISODE VII.
STAR WARS: EPISODE VII opens on December 18, 2015.