Luke Skywalker has gone from hero to MacGuffin.
Its the thing the heroes are trying to find, or understand.
Its the puzzle theyre trying to unlock.
Credit: Lucasfilm
No one forgot about him!
director J.J. Abrams promises.
Certainly Luke is a very important aspect of the story.
That question,Where is Luke?, is one the movie is going to answer.
So it cant very well tell you up front.
NOT WHERE, BUT WHO?
A similar question is actually the thing that made Abrams say yes to directing the film.
And all of them may be true.
Is he really the person we thought we knew?
Was Yoda right about him being impulsive and impatient?
What if Luke was more noble than the little green guy gave him credit for?
None of these are things Abrams will discuss now.
Again, only the film itself will answer those questions.
But he will talk about another implication of the thing that drew him in: Who is Luke Skywalker?
In the Oct. 19 trailer, Han Solo tells Rey and Finn: Its all true.
And they listen like teenagers being told the Tooth Fairy is real.
Hell, ask a 40-year-old and see what you get.
FORGOTTEN HEROES
The filmmakers didnt forget about Luke, but others in the galaxy may have.
Theyd be as old and as mythic as the tale of King Arthur.
They would be characters who they may have heard of, but maybe not.
Theyd be characters who they might believe existed, or just sounded like a fairy tale.
For Finn, hes been raised from the ashes of the Empire, says Boyega.
Hes been taught about Luke Skywalker, he knows about his history.
For him its like joining the army and then learning about one of the great enemies of your country.
It has that effect on him.
What is the Force, what part does Luke Skywalker play in all of this?
Han Solo, he adds, doesnt inspire the same fear.
For Finn, it really is kind of: Han who?
To a stormtrooper theyve probably been given a watered down bit about Han Solo or something, he says.
It doesnt feel as magical and mythical and historical, so you know.
Its quite fun playing that not really knowing who these people are.
In this film … its an important piece of the puzzle that will reveal Lukes fate and whereabouts.
Its a pretty dark one.
Dinner For Five… Abrams says, thinking back.
It was a funny night.
And Stan Lee was there too it was a very funny group of people.
Yeah, Mark had a whole concept.
Abrams offers a smile that looks like a Closed sign being turned forward in a storefront window.
It was definitely entertaining to be at that table, yeah, is all hell say.
Hamill is also quick to turn around a Closed sign when things get too close toThe Force Awakensstory.
Id like to answer that, but it would give away the secrets of Episode VII, Hamill replies.
This isnt easy for him.
That would be young children, he says.
Because they dont understand non-disclosure agreements, they just want to know whats going on.
Its not been easy, but the wait will soon be over.
Whatever Hamill imagined in hisDinner For Fivevideo about Skywalkers future is as valid as your own interpretation.
Thats the beauty of the story, is it leaves it up to the audiences imagination, he says.
But that was just the structure of the movie, so it leaves it to the audience.
But this actively ignores the inconvenient fact thatGirlsactor Adam Driver is the one playing Kylo Ren.
So, uh, maybe thats not the best guess?
Abrams wont confirm or deny anything: The thing Im most grateful for is that anyones asking any questions.
But the smile on his face suggests hes enjoying your anguish.
Weve tried to give people a taste.
But youve got to be careful that you dont start to give too many bites, he says.
They can start to get full.
They can start to feel like theyve seen the whole movie before they have.
Asked what is the right question for fans to be asking about Luke, and Hamills answer is emphatic.
There should be no questions.
He brings up George Lucas adding Episode IV to the originalStar Warsfilm.
Even I said to George, Whats going on with that?
And so just on that basis alone, you should go in fresh and not have any questions.
The only question with an actual answer right now is: When?
Luke Skywalker will be waiting to see you again on Dec. 18.
For more onStar Wars, follow@Breznican.
Friday at EW.com: Starkiller Base and the deadly ambition of General Hux.
Pick up the newStar Wars: The Force Awakensdouble issue of Entertainment Weeklyon newsstands Friday, orbuy it here.
