Master Yoda’s Force Ghost appearing in Star Wars: The Last Jedi was a welcome surprise, and if new rumors turn out to be true, then he might be back for another go in J. J. Abrams’s Episode IX.
On Saturday, NY Daily News reported that an inside “source” confirmed that Yoda will appear once again in the final film of the new trilogy. “The success of the scenes featuring Yoda in The Last Jedi were huge,” the person said. “Yoda will again appear as a ghost as he acknowledges Rey’s success and growth as a Jedi. The scenes are due to be put together later this year.” Production on Episode IX should begin sometime this summer, so the timing certainly checks out, but it seems like Yoda’s role might be akin to Obi-Wan Kenobi’s in Return of the Jedi in that he’ll pop up for one crucial conversation early on in the story. But for all we know, he might not be the only Force Ghost to pop up.
Yoda appeared to Luke Skywalker in 'The Last Jedi'.
Legendary puppeteer Frank Oz voiced Yoda in The Last Jedi and helped in producing Yoda’s scene, and he’ll probably do the same for Episode IX. But what of Force Ghosts other potential Force Ghosts? The final scene of Return of the Jedi featured a small group of Force Ghosts smiling at Luke Skywalker — namely Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, and Obi-Wan Kenobi — so could we get a contemporary reprisal of that idea for Rey after she wins the day in Episode IX?
Remember that Luke Skywalker died in The Last Jedi after projecting a version of his body to Crait that faced off against his nephew. During their conversation, he implied that once he died, he might go on to haunt Kylo Ren. Mark Hamill could reprise his role as Luke Skywalker in Force Ghost form. The same could be said of Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi, especially if J. J. Abrams retcons Rey’s parentage to make her a Kenobi, which is admittedly possible.
We might finally learn why Rey heard Obi-Wan’s voice when she touched Luke’s lightsaber for the first time — if Obi-Wan himself shows up to tell her! Even better would be if Anakin Skywalker’s Force Ghost appeared to scold Kylo Ren on the err of his ways, and it’s totally possible considering there’s official concept art out there.
No matter what, it looks like we’re due for one or more Force Ghosts in Episode IX, and at the very least one of them will probably be Yoda.
It’s just too bad we can’t say the same for Solo: A Star Wars Story, which might just be the first Star Wars movie without any lightsabers in it.
Star Wars: Episode IX is scheduled for release on December 20, 2019.
