Once "The Last Jedi" ended and the credits rolled we were all left wondering the same question: Was Luke Skywalker really dead? Luke’s fate was, of course, delivered to us at the end of an exhilarating, and series-changing, third act in "The Last Jedi " Luke had, more or less, given in to the Force and found a way to create a hologram of himself while fighting Kylo Ren, it was all part of a distraction so that the resistance could sneak away. Eventually, as the fight came to its apex, Luke’s physical being disappeared, Jedi robe flying into the wind, having used so much of the force that the movie hinted he probably died.
The use of the famous Jedi in the 8th film of the "Star Wars" saga had many fans riled up and upset over the way director Rian Johnson portrayed the simple Tatooine farmboy turned savior of the galaxy. However, speaking to the Associated Press on the “Child’s Play” red carpet, Hamill confirmed that he will indeed appear in the upcoming final chapter “Rise of the Skywalker” as a Force ghost, calling it “a curtain call.”
“I sure hope this [is my last “Star Wars”],” Hamill said. “I had closure in the last one. The fact that I’m involved in any capacity is only because of that peculiar aspect of the ‘Star Wars’ mythology where if you’re a Jedi, you get to come back and make a curtain call as a Force ghost.”
Earlier last year, Hamill discussed Skywalker’s fate by saying “I refuse to believe that he’s gone. My theory is he just teleported to somewhere else and left his robe behind. He teleported to a nudist colony, that’s what I’m hoping.”
Of course, Hamill was half-jokingly making these remarks, but there is also, no doubt, some truth in his statement. He obviously doesn't want to believe Skywalker is gone forever, no, he's probably in a peaceful, zen-like place where you can hear the sounds of the ocean waves a short distance away.
It would have felt almost sacrilege not to bring back Hamill for the final chapter as I am sure many were expecting Abrams to do in his upcoming, much-anticipated film (set for December 2019 release). At the very least, because Luke is dead, just like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda before him, he will indeed follow in the tradition and be a Force ghost. The aforementioned Jedis all left behind their robes dancing in the wind as well in their death scenes. This confirmation from Hamill only makes sense.
It gives me no pleasure to report that this is one of the worst films of Schrader’s career. Wooden acting, Jack Huston and Sofia Boutella are badly miscast, the script is dull, the photography is flat; nothing works.