Mark Hamill Confirms No Return as Naked Force Ghost in Star Wars

If you were wondering whether Mark Hamill might reprise his role as Luke Skywalker’s Force ghost, it's time to put that idea to rest. The iconic actor has officially ruled out any future involvement with the Star Wars franchise, emphasizing that it’s time for the saga to move forward and spotlight newer characters rather than rely on legacy figures.

During a recent interview with ComicBook.com promoting his new film, The Life of Chuck, Hamill was asked about the possibility of returning as Luke’s Force ghost in the upcoming Rey-centric movie, New Jedi Order. His response? Absolutely not. After all, Luke left everything—including his iconic robes—behind in 2017’s The Last Jedi.

“I am so grateful to George [Lucas] for letting me be a part of that back in the day, the humble days when George called Star Wars ‘the most expensive low-budget movie ever made,’” Hamill reflected.

“We never expected it to become a permanent franchise and a part of pop culture like that. But my deal is, I had my time. I’m appreciative of that, but I really think they should focus on the future and all the new characters.

“And by the way, when I disappeared in [The Last Jedi], I left my robes behind. And there’s no way I’m gonna appear as a naked Force ghost.”

Rey, on the other hand, is indeed set to return in a new chapter directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy—a sequel to Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. This upcoming story will follow Rey as she attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order roughly fifteen years after the events of that divisive finale.

Details about New Jedi Order remain scarce. However, in early 2024, Daisy Ridley spoke to AlloCiné and shared a bit more insight: “Once I knew what the story was and everything, I knew that it was something I really wanted to do,” she said. “I think it's a really fantastic exploration of the StarWars world. It's a really cool way of taking the story on in a bit of a different direction.”

Looking ahead, The Mandalorian and Grogu is scheduled for a 2026 release, while Shawn Levy’s Star Wars film starring Ryan Gosling is set to hit theaters in 2027.

Every Upcoming Star Wars Movie and TV Show

At Star Wars Celebration 2023, Lucasfilm unveiled plans for three exciting new feature films: a New Republic-era project helmed by Dave Filoni (set within The Mandalorian universe), a Dawn of the Jedi origin story directed by James Mangold, and the aforementioned New Jedi Order featuring Rey.

While many details may shift over time, one thing is clear—Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker won’t be making any further appearances, even as a Force ghost. The torch has officially been passed.