After many comments of late surrounding his potential Star Wars future, Mark Hamill has made it clear that he does not intend to return to a galaxy far, far away. After appearing in six of the nine films in the Skywalker Saga, Hamill has become one of Star Wars' most commonly-recurring actors. His character, Luke Skywalker, has appeared constantly throughout the Star Wars timeline, making Hamill's insistence that he will not return a monumental reveal to the future of the franchise.

In a recent interview with CBS News, Hamill was asked whether he could reprise his role in any future Star Wars projects:

"I had my time, and that's good, but that's enough... Well, you never say never. I just don't see any reason to. Let me put it that way: I mean, they have so many stories to tell, they don't need Luke anymore."

These comments seem to indicate that Mark Hamill and therefore Luke Skywalker are both done within the world of Star Wars. While his character is still prevalent in many Star Wars stories, such as The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, Hamill seems convinced that the franchise no longer has need for his iconic character.

Does Star Wars Still Need Luke Skywalker?

Star Wars The Last Jedi Luke with The Rise of Skywalker Rey

Hamill's question bring the question of whether Star Wars does need Hamill and Luke Skywalker into the fore, with the answer potentially being split among the fanbase. Many would argue that the franchise needs to move away from the Skywalker Saga now that the episodic films have finished. This certainly fits into Hamill's comments, with the actor rightly stating that there are many other stories to tell that do not involve Luke.

However, the announcement of Rey's new Jedi Order movie at Star Wars Celebration 2023 certainly gives Luke Skywalker at least one more role in the franchise. After his doubt in the sequel trilogy about whether the Jedi should continue, having Force ghost Luke aid Rey Skywalker in building a new Jedi Order that fixes both his and his ancestors' mistakes would be a fitting end for Luke as a character. While it could be argued that the franchise does not need Luke Skywalker, a few more stories could be told using the Jedi Master that would satisfyingly conclude the arc of one of Star Wars' most iconic characters.

Source: CBS