It has been revealed that Luke Skywalker also died in the middle chapter of George Lucas’ planned Star Wars Sequel Trilogy.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi was a controversial film with one of the reasons being the decision to kill Luke Skywalker. Luke returned after his death by becoming one with the force but the move still took people by surprise.
Well, it seems like Luke would have perished no matter if George Lucas’ original Sequel Trilogy treatments had been used (treatments that Lucasfilm decided not to use after Disney purchased them).
In a new book called Star Wars: Fascinating Facts by Lucasfilm’s Creative Executive Pablo Hidalgo, he reveals that Lucas had the same idea to kill Luke in Episode VIII. The reveal comes on page 140:
“Years before The Last Jedi began development, the treatment left behind by George Lucas in 2012 also had Episode VIII be the one wherein Luke Skywalker would die.”
The new book "Star Wars Fascinating Facts" delivers on that title with this one: in George Lucas' 2012 treatment for the sequel trilogy, Luke died in Episode VIII. #StarWars pic.twitter.com/jcwhyGi967
— Andrew (@Oozer) October 13, 2020
As one can’t help but wonder what the Sequel Trilogy would have been like if Lucas had made them, this gives us an idea that things might have been far more similar than first thought. Luke’s fate was always sealed it would seem.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi stars Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma), Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), Laura Dern (Vice Admiral Holdo), Billie Lourd (Lieutenant Connix), Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke), Benicio Del Toro (DJ), Peter Mayhew and Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar), Mike Quinn (Nien Nunb) and Jimmy Vee (R2-D2).