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It's Official: 'The Last Jedi' Is Singular — Not Plural — And He's Luke Skywalker

Who is the Last Jedi?

By Tom BaconPublished 6 years ago 2 min read
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What will Luke's fate be? [Credit: Lucasfilm]

Who is the Last Jedi? It's a question that's plagued the Internet since Lucasfilm announced the title of Star Wars: Episode VIII back in January, and initially the most common theory was that it was Luke Skywalker himself.

A month later, though, international translations of the film's title left us convinced that the word "Jedi" was actually plural, meaning it likely referred to both Luke and Rey. Now, though, in a surprising twist at Star Wars Celebration, director Rian Johnson has just revealed the truth.

"It's so funny when people started asking that when the title was announced because I never even pondered that question... In my mind its singular. They say in The Force Awakens that he's gone on to find the last Jedi temple. Luke is the last Jedi."

Luke Skywalker Is Officially The Last Jedi

Every story must come to an end. [Credit: Lucasfilm]

When Jedi Master Yoda lay on his deathbed, he didn't refer to Luke as the first of the New Jedi Order. Instead, he quite deliberately called Luke the "last of the Jedi." Fast-forward 30 years to the events of The Force Awakens, and that seems very much prophetic. Luke's attempt to restart the Jedi Order has failed, with his potential Jedi slaughtered at the hands of a wayward apprentice.

The opening crawl for The Force Awakens supported this, deliberately referring to Luke as "the last Jedi." Eagle-eyed fans drew the connection between Episode VIII's title and that opening crawl straight away, but we were all kind of misled by the translations.

Now, of course, Rian Johnson has given the definitive word on the subject: Luke Skywalker is officially the Last Jedi.

I feel more than a little sorry for those translators. The French, German and Spanish titles all use the plural noun; les dernier, los ultimos, die letzen, etc. But let's face it, the director's word is the definitive statement on this one, so I'm afraid the translators slipped up.

The Implications For The Trailer

We've just thrilled to the first trailer for The Last Jedi, but this revelation casts an intriguing light upon it. First of all, note that this could mean Luke is not training Rey to be a Jedi at all; he's training her to become something else. It's telling that the poster shows Rey holding her lightsaber aloft inbetween light (Luke) and dark (Kylo Ren). Perhaps she'll become a Guardian of the Whills? Or something else entirely?

This could mean Luke is not training Rey to be a Jedi at all; he's training her to become something else.

Meanwhile, this adds a sinister undertone to the final words of the trailer. The "one truth" that Luke knows is a disturbing one; that it is time for the Jedi to end. If Luke Skywalker is indeed "the Last Jedi," then those words seem to refer to him accepting his fate — that the Jedi Order will die with him. But does that mean he feels death is approaching? As heart-wrenching as this would be, it would also be appropriate; just as Obi-Wan gave his life for Luke, so Luke could give his life — perhaps for Rey.

We thought we had The Last Jedi sussed. We thought the title was plural, and that we didn't need to worry for Luke any more. Rian Johnson has just revealed that we were wrong. Luke Skywalker is indeed the Last of the Jedi — and that revelation is sure to set the Internet buzzing once again!

(Source: Good Morning America)

star wars
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About the Creator

Tom Bacon

A prolific writer and film fan, Tom has a deep love of the superhero genre.

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