Where’s Luke In Star Wars: The Force Awakens?

My Reverse-Conflict Theory

Here is my suspicion: Luke Skywalker is exiled, but not for the reasons we expect. We assume it is because he is concerned for the safety of the galaxy because the Force is so strong with him. He has always been uncomfortable with that amount of power being under his control, and remains daunted by the responsibility. In truth, he has either been purposefully banished by Kylo Ren, or is in hiding because his son has joined the Dark Side, and has been employed as second-in-command to Supreme Leader Snoke. Luke is deeply ashamed that he was unable to prevent his son from winning the internal battle that Luke himself fought for so many years.

Rey, who may or may not be the daughter of Han and Leia, finds a relic from the original trilogy – perhaps Luke’s lightsaber, which we see her hand to Leia in the trailer – and her curiosity is stirred. We then enjoy a Star Wars movie that sees our heroes, old and new, seek out Luke to help in the battle against the Dark Side, which turns out to be run by a villain that is not only his son, but also the nephew of Princess Leia and, maybe, the cousin of Rey. It is, in effect, the reverse of the father-son conflict of the original trilogy and, if Rey is indeed a relative, sets up a series in which cousins are locked in battle.

This is a premise that ticks all the boxes. It has family drama, call-backs to the original trilogy, old and new heroes, joy, despair, and above all, plot twists. For example, if Luke Skywalker is the father of Kylo Ren, then who is his mother? Most importantly, it places Luke Skywalker at the heart of the action. So, why isn’t he on the poster?

In the trailers, we hear his voice, and we see his hand – but his visage is shrouded by a hooded robe. If Kylo Ren is indeed his child, who knows what disfiguring battles the Jedi has already endured by the time he is called back into action? The big reveal will be what time has physically inflicted upon this iconic character, and so his image is not included on the poster. Luke Skywalker, on the other hand, is perfectly infused into every single pixel of that promotional tool.

So, there you have it. Those are our theories in regards to Luke and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. If you have any of your own to share, feel free to drop them down below in the comments section.