Russ007--

I think that, with a title like "The Last Jedi", the odds are good that Luke will die in Episode 8 (even though Rey may take his place as "the last Jedi" upon his death-- then again, maybe that is the filmmakers' intention-- for the film's title to have a double meaning).

Also, I think Disney has a strong desire to move the franchise beyond the original characters and actors, so this would be another reason to kill Luke off (perhaps we will see Mark Hamill/Luke Skywalker do a few "ghostly mentor" scenes for Rey in Episode 9, like Obi-Wan did for Luke in the OT, but after Episode 9, I really don't see Mark Hamill/Luke making any more appearances).

@northcoast said: Also, I think Disney has a strong desire to move the franchise beyond the original characters and actors, so this would be another reason to kill Luke off (perhaps we will see Mark Hamill/Luke Skywalker do a few "ghostly mentor" scenes for Rey in Episode 9, like Obi-Wan did for Luke in the OT, but after Episode 9, I really don't see Mark Hamill/Luke making any more appearances).

Yes, precisely. I could imagine Luke telling Rey or Finn that he has passed his prime for fighting because he's frail and tired but that there's a way to be "stronger" (force ghost). I don't think he should have a similar death to Yoda's but something much more climatic like a final duel with his grandson..

Like you said, he could then mentor them after his demise and he'd never completely fade away from the story. At least not until Ep. X though

@Russ007 said:

A short while ago, I read an article about the cast/crew saying how Hamill's performance is fantastic and also oscar worthy.

I wonder if the cast/crew had been particularly blown away by Hamill's space cow breast milking performance? To be fair it is the greatest space cow milking I've ever seen commited to film.

@The Midi-chlorian Count said:

@Russ007 said:

A short while ago, I read an article about the cast/crew saying how Hamill's performance is fantastic and also oscar worthy.

I wonder if the cast/crew had been particularly blown away by Hamill's space cow breast milking performance? To be fair it is the greatest space cow milking I've ever seen commited to film.

That was like 20 seconds of the entire film and it was played for laughs in the same spirit as all of the previous SW movies.

Luke milking Space Cow for laughs?

I think actually watching the scene speaks for itself.

Because Luke is not a religious surf nazi?