‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’: Is This Why Luke Is In Exile?

There have been plenty of theories (and parodies) about Luke Skywalker’s absence from the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailers, and Entertainment Weekly‘s special double issue is now adding more details. The reveal comes buried 10 slides into a slideshow, where a picture of Stormtroopers is paired with this caption:

First Order soldiers take fire as they rush into battle from the gangplank of a troop carrier. Although Finn is no longer among them, Boyega says soldiers raised from childhood to serve this remnant of the scattered Imperial forces are fed propaganda about the heroes of the Rebellion. Unlike Rey, he has learned a lot about Luke Skywalker — but he has been taught he was a villain who destroyed the benevolent Empire.

It’s interesting that they point out Rey doesn’t know much about Skywalkers, and also interesting that the stories Han Solo says are “all true” are a very different version of the truth if you were raised by Imperial forces. If Luke has been branded a villain in the court of public opinion, would that explain his hiding out?

On the other hand, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy reportedly convinced J.J. Abrams to direct by posing the question, “Who is Luke Skywalker?” This would suggest Luke’s exile is far more complex and tortured than simply losing a PR campaign.

Or maybe he’s just hiding out because everyone heard about him kissing his sister…

(Via Entertainment Weekly and CBM)

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