Luke Skywalker Actor Mark Hamill Officially Rules Out Star Wars Return: 'There's No Way I'm Gonna Appear as a Naked Force Ghost'

If you were curious whether Mark Hamill might reappear 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 beloved sci-fi franchise, stating it's time for Star Wars to evolve beyond legacy characters and embrace new storytelling possibilities.

During a recent interview with ComicBook.com—promoting his latest 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 was definitive: absolutely not. After all, Luke made his final on-screen appearance—and left behind his robes—in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).

Hamill first portrayed Luke Skywalker in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, launching one of the most influential franchises in cinematic history.

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

“We never anticipated it would become such an enduring cultural phenomenon. But here’s the thing—I had my moment. I’m incredibly thankful for the experience, but I truly believe it’s time for Star Wars to focus on the future and the next generation of characters.

“And just to be clear,” he added with a chuckle, “when I vanished in The Last Jedi, I left my robes behind. There’s no way I’m coming back as a naked Force ghost.”

Rey, on the other hand, is set to return in New Jedi Order, a sequel directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy that follows her journey to rebuild the Jedi Order approximately fifteen years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker—a film that received widespread criticism upon release.

So far, very little is known about New Jedi Order. Back in January 2024, Daisy Ridley offered a few hints about the project during an interview with AlloCiné: “Once I understood what the story was and everything involved, I knew this was something I really wanted to do. I think it offers a fresh and exciting exploration of the Star Wars universe. It’s a great opportunity to take the story in a slightly different direction.”

Looking ahead, The Mandalorian and Grogu is scheduled for a 2026 release, while Shawn Levy’s Ryan Gosling-led Star Wars film is slated for 2027.

All Upcoming Star Wars Movies and TV Shows

View 21 ImagesAt Star Wars Celebration 2023, Lucasfilm revealed details about three upcoming feature films: a New Republic-era film directed by Dave Filoni, a Dawn of the Jedi project from James Mangold, and the previously mentioned New Jedi Order.

While many details may shift over time, one thing remains certain—Mark Hamill’s portrayal of the Force ghost version of Luke Skywalker won’t be making a comeback in future projects.