'Mandalorian' Director and Mark Hamill Twitter Exchange Demonstrates The True Meaning of 'Star Wars'
The season two finale of The Mandalorian was immensely satisfying in so many different ways. It saw the titular Mandalorian, Din Djarin, fulfill the quest he was assigned by The Armorer at the end of season one: to find a Jedi to take in Grogu.
Season two was full of jaw-dropping moments. We met live-action versions of The Clone Wars/Rebels fan favorites Bo-Katan Kryze and Ahsoka Tano (the latter of which many thought would teach Grogu). Grand Admiral Thrawn was mentioned by name, which had Rebels and Heir to the Empire fans equally stunned. We were reintroduced to Boba Fett and finally saw on screen what made him such a feared and formidable bounty hunter. But those moments, as amazing as they were, could not have prepared us for one more reveal that few saw coming.
As things looked desperate for our heroes, backed into the bridge of Moff Gideon’s ship with the new Dark Troopers closing in, a lone X-Wing arrived on the scene. Luke Skywalker himself cut through the powerful droids, using an impressive combination of lightsaber techniques and Force powers that truly showed how powerful of a Jedi he had become. He stepped into the bridge and whisked Grogu off to continue his Jedi training.
Many fans, myself included, were stunned. The Mandalorian bringing in the protagonist of the original trilogy? Sure, Grogu would need an experienced Jedi to teach him, but there were so many factors that made some fans never even consider Luke as a possibility, like budget and where in the timeline The Mandalorian takes place. Ezra Bridger seemed like a likely candidate since other characters from Rebels had been introduced and he had last been seen disappearing with Grand Admiral Thrawn. Cal Kestis from Jedi: Fallen Order also seemed like a possibility as his storyline was left open ended when we last saw him.
Seeing that X-Wing fly in, then the cloaked figure with a single black glove and a green lightsaber with an instantly recognizable hilt (that hasn’t been seen in action since Return of the Jedi), and finally Mark Hamill’s de-aged face, were all moments that made me feel like a kid again. In many ways, this version of Luke was everything a 10-year-old version of me had wanted to see out of a post-Return of the Jedi movie. I had imagined Luke building a Jedi temple and training new students for years. I'd be lying if I told you I hadn't dreamt of being a Jedi myself. Luke Skywalker was my first hero.
The director of the episode, Peyton Reed (Ant-Man movies, Bring it On, Yes Man) felt something very similar when working on this episode. On January 15, he tweeted:
Dear @HamillHimself,
When I was a kid, this photo hung on my bedroom wall. STAR WARS, and Luke Skywalker in particular, meant a great deal to me.
Some things never change.
It was an honor and a dream come true to work with you on @themandalorian. Thank you. #MTFBWY pic.twitter.com/trJulIaEf6— Peyton Reed (@MrPeytonReed) January 15, 2021
Mark Hamill himself responded to Reed’s tweet, and underlined exactly why Luke Skywalker is such an important figure to so many of us:
Dear @MrPeytonReed,
I am so grateful to have been given the unexpected opportunity to revisit my character when he was still a symbol of hope & optimism.
Your assured direction & kindness was a crucial element in the experience & means more to me than I can say.#ThankYOU🙏 https://t.co/yNngOQdJRS— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) January 16, 2021
Reed’s statement echoes how important this franchise is to so many. Star Wars isn’t just a series of movies. It’s hope. It’s inspiration. It's optimism. Storytelling, since the beginning of human communication, has been used as a light in the darkness, or a temporary escape from current events or personal struggles.
You may be down on your luck, being bullied, feeling inadequate, or unsure of who you are and where you fit in to all of this...but there’s a galaxy far, far away where you can forget all of those things. A place where the good guys always prevail in the end, a place filled with hope and the promise of a better tomorrow.
That’s what Star Wars is.
Source(s): The Direct