More and more news is emerging from the Star Wars sets.
Episode 9 has been filming for a month already and there have been leaked photographs as well as descriptions of concept art, scenes and sets.
Numerous reports place Mark Hamill filming at least two scenes at Pinewood in October with two of the new leads from the final trilogy. Everyone is eager to find out how Luke Sywalker will return. Will he be shown as a Force Ghost, in flashbacks or somehow brought back to life using the Force?
New leaks describe an exciting and dramatic Luke scene in great detail and the fan reactions have not been positive.
Two things must be remembered. First, leaks, even if confirmed, may not materialise on screen when the final cut hits cinemas. Second, a very vocal section of the fandom was outraged by much of Episode 8 and has very specific demands for Episode 9. They do not represent the entire fandom, but they are clearly a significant part.
The leaks says: “Both Kylo Ren and Rey are in a jungle at night. Lots of moonlight shining on the two characters.
“Suddenly the Force Ghost of Luke appears in the distance. As Luke is walking closer to Kylo and Rey he appears young like the Luke we saw in Return of the Jedi. Then an older man without a beard, eventually morphing into the Luke Skywalker we saw on the planet Crait with the beard.
“At this point Luke’s ghost is on top of a boulder and appears to be giving Kylo Ren and Rey a lecture.”
This certainly ties in with newly clean-shaven pictures Mark Hamill posted just before he started filming.
It is also a totally new way of presenting a Force Ghost. Previously Star wars has only shown one incarnation of Anakin, Yoda or Obi-Wan. This was highlighted by the removal of the first Anakin Sebastian Shaw force ghost being replaced by Hayden Christensen in later reissues of The Return of the Jedi.
JJ Abrams could be entering a new version of a Force ghost into official canon who is able to manipulate how he appears to the living. Although it seem rather extreme for Hamill to shave his beard for a few flickering seconds of this scene.
The scene also reveals that Kylo and Rey will be reunited in Episode 9 and go on some form of journey together.
Despite all these major revealtions, the fan reactions to the spoiler video have overwhelmingly focussed on one thing. A section of the fandom wants Luke brought back alive at any cost. Any other alternative, they say, will only prolong their boycott of the latest Star Wars movies.
Comments included: “It will be really tough if not impossible for JJ, Lucas Films, etc., to pull off a successful film that redeems past mistakes without bringing Luke back in the flesh.”
“Luke back, in the flesh, alive, or we’re done.”
“As I write this there are 187 comments. About 90% give or take say the same thing. No Luke. No movie. Ive seen the same on other channels. I get it. Some people liked last Jedi. That’s fine. Most did not. The second part of a concluding trilogy is not the place to make an indie film where you deconstruct the one character that got us here. Most can agree his character was poorly treated in episode 8.”
“Happy reading the comments that everyone is in agreement. No GHOSTS please. A living Luke only.”
“No live luke, no ticket. Simple as that.”
“No force ghost Luke please. He needs to be alive. Keep repeating this but if Disney checks this stuff they need to know and see it over and over.”
“This trilogy doesn’t have to be about him but don’t treat the character like garbage.”