Luke’s Fate May Have Been The Reason Colin Trevorrow Departed Star Wars: Episode IX

It seems Mark Hamill wasn’t the only one who wanted Rian Johnson to spare Luke Skywalker until Star Wars: Episode IX.

Currently out promoting The Last Jedi‘s impending Blu-ray release – not to mention that buzzworthy featurette “The Director and the Jedi” – Hamill told members of the press that he was initially on board with Colin Trevorrow’s direction for the as-yet-untitled Episode IX.

The same can’t be said for Mark Hamill and The Last Jedi‘s Rian Johnson, given the creative duo weren’t exactly on the same page regarding Luke Skywalker and his own nuanced character arc. History tells us that Mark Hamill quickly changed his tune, resulting in what he believes to be one of the “most sophisticated” Star Wars movies ever made. But when Trevorrow was still attached to Episode IX, both he and Mark Hamill were very much singing from the same hymn sheet.

“I had discussions with Colin,” said the actor. “I was very excited because we were on the same page in terms of where we wanted to go and how we wanted to see Luke in a way that we never seen him. Even in this current version. But I don’t know what went on.”

“I don’t want to know because there is no upside to that story. I like all those people. I like Kathy, and I like Lawrence Kasdan and all the people involved in that decision, but sometimes ignorance is bliss. And they don’t tell me anything.”

Coupled with one Redditor’s findings (h/t CBM), there are those who believe Colin Trevorrow bowed out of Episode IX due to Rian Johnson’s decision to kill off Luke Skywalker.

It’s not outside the realm of possibility, as Trevorrow and his writing partner Derek Connolly (Jurassic World) likely assumed that they’d be working with both General Leia and Luke Skywalker come 2019. Sadly, that isn’t the case, while that aforementioned fan theory suggests Star Wars: Episode IX would have largely centered Luke and Leia’s relationship – not to mention the latter’s connection to the Force – and Supreme Leader Snoke, who was also left sleeping with the space fishes by the time the credits rolled on Episode VIII.

So on paper, this particular fan theory is plausible, though we’d still advise treating it with a heightened sense of caution. The Last Jedi, meanwhile, is due to hit Blu-ray on March 27th.