Any good "Star Wars" fan worth their salt has probably noticed that Luke Skywalker has been virtually nonexistent in all of "The Force Awakens'" promotional material. Aside from a voice over largely taken from "Return of the Jedi" in one teaser and a mysterious shot of a robotic hand, fans haven't gotten the slightest whiff of the iconic Jedi Knight (though there is this leaked image from the set).
Is this because the original trilogy characters are only present in minor supporting roles or is there something more to this marketing strategy? The Associated Press asked director J.J. Abrams who responded succinctly with: "It's no accident."
If Abrams is to be trusted, this intentional ploy lends credence to rumors surrounding Mark Hamill's role in "The Force Awakens." For several months we've been hearing that Luke is in some sort of self-imposed exile throughout the majority of the film. Why he's segregated himself from the galaxy remains to be seen. It's been whispered that he's guarding an ancient Sith tomb or even succumbing to Dark Side tendencies.
Regardless of the reason for his exile, it is believed that the new generation of heroes (Rey, Finn and Poe Dameron) spend much of the film searching for Luke. Why exactly they need his help is unknown though it likely has something to do with the "awakening" in the Force that Andy Serkis' character mentions during the first teaser.
Abrams also mentioned that the final cut of the film is still underway. Specifically, he's working on visual effects and the score. Abrams called composer John Williams "a God" and said the two will finish the film's music in the very near future. Hopefully by then we have a better understanding of how Luke fits into "The Force Awakens," though given Abrams' infamous secrecy we're doubting we get any more information.
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will hit theaters on Dec. 18.
