Disney's handling of Luke Skywalker has received largely negative reviews from fans. He didn't show up until the end of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, where the iconic hero had a silent cameo.
Later, The Last Jedi revealed why the disillusioned Jedi Master had walked away from his friends and the fight with the First Order. That didn't go down well, though his sacrifice to save the Resistance somewhat made up for it. A Force Ghost cameo in The Rise of Skywalker followed, but no one wanted to see Luke die, and his role in the Skywalker Saga's final chapters was widely deemed a disappointment.
The Mandalorian redeemed the character by showing him at the height of his Jedi powers, while The Book of Boba Fett revealed more about what the early days of his Jedi Academy looked like.
Unfortunately, Luke hasn't been seen since, but that could be about to change. According to leaker @FivesWalker, Luke Skywalker is set to return in the next season of Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi.
The animated anthology series started in 2022 with Tales of the Jedi, and was followed by Tales of the Empire and Tales of the Underworld. While a new Tales series hasn't been officially announced, putting the spotlight on Luke would generate plenty of excitement among Star Wars fans.
With the last two series being released on May 4, it's possible an announcement could be imminent (particularly with Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord wrapping up soon).
As for this leaker, they have a credible track record, having previously revealed accurate Shadow Lord plot details in advance and a few movie scoops that were later confirmed by the Hollywood trades.
The big question is whether Mark Hamill will return to voice Luke Skywalker. Last June, he seemingly closed the door on the possibility of playing the character again.
"I am so grateful to George [Lucas] for letting me be a part of that back in the day, the humble days when George called Star Wars 'the most expensive low-budget movie ever made,'" Hamill said. "We never expected it to become a permanent franchise and a part of pop culture like that. But my deal is, I had my time. I’m appreciative of that, but I really think they should focus on the future and all the new characters."
Hamill has praised Disney's decision to appoint Dave Filoni as Lucasfilm's new co-President, and given his creative involvement in the Tales franchise, there's every chance he's convinced the actor to return for the animated series.
Stay tuned for updates on Luke Skywalker's Star Wars future as we have them.