Luke Skywalker may want the Jedi to end in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and that arc was a struggle for Mark Hamill to accept. Hamill has been through quite a journey since landing the role of Luke Skywalker in the 1970s. Back then, Hamill and the Star Wars brand were not household names, but they may now exceed that very definition. Starting as a young farmboy on Tatooine, Luke went on to become one of if not the greatest Jedi of all-time. He successfully helped take down the Empire and brought the Jedi Order and the Force back to relevance.

But in the years following these events, something else has happened to Luke. His nephew was seduced by the Dark Side and betrayed him, killing all of his padawans in the process. With his former best friend now gone and control of the galaxy once again hanging in the balance, Luke will be called back to action in The Last Jedi.

As revealed in the The Last Jedi teaser trailer, Luke will be reluctant to attempt to save the galaxy once again and train a new generation of Jedi - starting with Rey (Daisy Ridley) - in the process. EW spoke to Hamill about his already-infamous line that ended said trailer, and he had the same reaction that most of the Star Wars community experienced, upon hearing it for the first time:

The fact that Luke says, ‘I only know one truth. It’s time for the Jedi to end…’ I mean, that’s a pretty amazing statement for someone who was the symbol of hope and optimism in the original films. When I first read it, my jaw dropped. What would make someone that alienated from his original convictions? That’s not something that you can just make up in an afternoon, and I really struggled with this thing.

Star Wars Celebration 2016 - Luke badge artwork

While Lucasfilm has yet to disclose the full history of what Luke experienced following Return of the Jedi, the brief moments shown in The Force Awakens make it clear why he could imagine exile as the best place to call home. But, Hamill knows the character better than anyone and a darker turn that includes forgetting the Jedi Order he once held so dear, is undoubtedly difficult to swallow. Hamill has stated before how he didn't agree with this being Luke's comeback story initially, but has come around to the unexpected story.

The fact that Hamill has struggled so mightily with Luke's story should be an indication of what fans can expect to experience in the theater. It clearly won't be the same Luke fans have experienced in movies past, but also one that won't be too foreign to the character's roots. Rey should be the beacon of hope throughout his journey and the one who pushes him back into the world. However, if Luke is reluctant to make the journey to begin with, things will undoubtedly not go according to their plans. The exact story The Last Jedi is going to tell with Luke may still be unclear, but it continues to sound as though it won't be what fans have been expecting.

More: Is Luke Skywalker the Villain of Star Wars 8?

Source: EW

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