How Old Luke Skywalker Was In Every Star Wars Movie & TV Show He Appeared In

Summary

  • Luke Skywalker’s journey from farm boy to Jedi master is a cornerstone of the Star Wars franchise.
  • Luke’s age at different points in the series informs his character development and motivations.
  • Mark Hamill’s return as Luke Skywalker in various Star Wars projects showcases the character’s growth.

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Luke Skywalker is one of the most iconic characters in Star Wars, but the character’s age throughout the franchise may be surprising. Luke Skywalker was the main character in the original Star Wars trilogy, with his journey from small farm boy on Tatooine to hero of the galaxy becoming one of the most well-known in history. Luke was the first character audiences ever got to see become a Jedi, and his journey has helped craft the entire Star Wars franchise after the original trilogy.

Originally, Luke Skywalker was called “Luke Starkiller” – a surname that has since been used in the Star Wars franchise. In fact, George Lucas’ original draft of Star Wars (later retitled A New Hope) was called “The Adventures of Luke Starkiller,” fully solidifying that the original Star Wars trilogy was set to center around him. Over the years, Luke has mostly been portrayed by Mark Hamill, something that allowed Star Wars to show Luke as he aged throughout the franchise. However, Luke Skywalker’s age in his various Star Wars appearances doesn’t usually match up with the actor portraying him.

Left: Jain Solo holding a blue lightsaber in Star Wars Legends; Center: Luke Skywalker wearing his black robes; Ben Solo wearing white robes and holding a lightsaber.
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6 Luke Skywalker Was 10 In Obi-Wan Kenobi

Luke Briefly Appeared in the Limited Series

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Before Obi-Wan Kenobi premiered on Disney+, many thought the story would revolve around the titular Jedi going to great lengths to protect Luke Skywalker; however, it turned out Obi-Wan Kenobi was protecting Luke’s twin sister Leia throughout the show’s run. Despite Leia being the focus of the Skywalker twins in Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke does appear, though audiences don’t get to know him too well. Most of what audiences learn about Luke during this time comes through Obi-Wan or Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.

In Obi-Wan Kenobi episode 6, Obi-Wan tells Leia that there is plenty of time for her to be a rebel and fight for what’s right, but that she’s only ten years old. Because Luke and Leia are twins, this solidifies not only Luke and Leia’s age, but also Obi-Wan Kenobi’s place on the Star Wars timeline. From what audiences see of Luke, he’s already showing that he has a desire to fly away from Tatooine and be a pilot. This also sets up Luke and Ben Kenobi’s relationship by introducing the two at the end of the series.

Obi-Wan Kenobi
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Obi-Wan Kenobi takes place 10 years after the events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, which showed Anakin’s fall to the dark side and the rise of Darth Vader. Obi-Wan is hiding on Tatooine and watching over Luke Skywalker before Bail Organa recruits him to save a kidnapped Leia. With a confrontation with Darth Vader inevitable, Obi-Wan Kenobi tells the story of a man of a destroyed alliance fighting to protect the future. Ewan McGregor returns as his fan-favorite Star Wars character, as does Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader.

Cast Bonnie Piesse , Hayden Christensen , Moses Ingram , O’Shea Jackson Jr. , Simone Kessell , Ewan McGregor , Grant Feely , Joel Edgerton , Maya Erskine , Benny Safdie , Indira Varma , Marisé Álvarez , Sung Kang , Rupert Friend , Kumail Nanjiani Release Date May 27, 2022 Seasons 1 Streaming Service(s) Disney Directors Deborah Chow

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5 Luke Skywalker Was 19 In A New Hope

He Was Still Just a Farm Boy

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Luke Skywalker’s journey to becoming a Jedi began in A New Hope, when he longed to see the rest of the galaxy but was seemingly forced to stay home on Tatooine to help his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru with their moisture farm. During the movie, Luke was supposed to be 19, which by Jedi standards is a bit old to start one’s training; however, with the pedigree Luke possessed, the ways of the Force seemingly came naturally to him. With Obi-Wan Kenobi’s help, Luke was able to take that first step to being the Jedi the galaxy needed.

Luke being 19 in A New Hope makes a lot of sense, considering that in the real world, this is often the age people are when they move away from home for various reasons. Luke longed to leave the life he knew on Tatooine because he felt he was destined for more, though it was clear that Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru were simply trying to keep their nephew safe. Once Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru are murdered by the Empire, it makes Luke’s decision to leave Tatooine very easy, especially when he has Obi-Wan encouraging him.

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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
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The film that began the Star Wars franchise, Episode IV – A New Hope tells the story of wistful Force-sensitive Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), who longs to leave his home planet of Tatooine to fight the evil Empire. After inheriting his Jedi father’s weapon, a lightsaber, Luke sets off under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) with smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to join the Rebellion and face the evil Darth Vader.

Director George Lucas Release Date May 25, 1977 Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Alec Guinness , David Prowse , James Earl Jones , Frank Oz , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Peter Mayhew , Peter Cushing Runtime 121 Minutes

4 The Empire Strikes Back Is 3 Years Later

Which Would Make Luke 22

One of the reasons why The Empire Strikes Back is so renowned in the Star Wars pantheon is because of the growth seen in Luke over the course of the movie. He goes and trains with Yoda on Dagobah, but he’s still a hot-headed kid who leaves despite Yoda telling him not to. The movie is also when Luke really begins coming into his own as a Jedi. His abilities have grown, though his discipline is still lacking.

Either way, The Empire Strikes Back is when Luke starts figuring out what he wants and how being a Jedi fits into that, which is what many people in the real world are doing when they’re 22. Luke tries to figure out who he is without pressure from Obi-Wan or Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. Instead, he remains loyal to the people he cares for the most—Leia and Han Solo. This could be seen as a flaw, but it’s exactly what differentiates Luke from his father, Darth Vader.

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Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
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1980 saw the continuation of the Skywalker Saga with Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Although this was the second film in the Star Wars series itself, it would end up being the fifth film chronologically in the Skywalker Saga itself. Created by George Lucas and directed by Irvin Kershner, this sequel sees Darth Vader attempting to locate the Rebel Alliance after they destroyed the Death Star.

Director Irvin Kershner Release Date May 21, 1980 Writers George Lucas , Lawrence Kasdan , Leigh Brackett Cast Mark Hamill , Harrison Ford , Carrie Fisher , Frank Oz , Billy Dee Williams , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , David Prowse , Peter Mayhew , James Earl Jones

Collage Image With Darth Vader in Empire Strikes Back and Luke in ROTJ
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3 Luke Skywalker Is 23 In Return Of The Jedi

The Final Original Trilogy Film Shows a Refined Luke

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Despite only a year separating The Empire Strikes Back from Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker’s abilities in the Force grew exponentially during that time. This is shown from the moment Luke appears on-screen, when he exudes ease and grace as he helps rescue Han Solo and take down Jabba the Hutt—even if their plan goes somewhat awry. It’s clear that in the year between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Luke continued to train and became much more confident in the ways of the Force.

While an older Jedi like Obi-Wan Kenobi might not have believed that there was anything remaining of Anakin Skywalker inside of Darth Vader, Luke still had hope and thought Vader was capable of redemption.

Luke’s still relatively young age helps contribute to his optimism when it comes to his father. Throughout the movie, Luke is insistent that there is still good in Darth Vader and that he can help him. While an older Jedi like Obi-Wan Kenobi might not have believed that there was anything remaining of Anakin Skywalker inside of Darth Vader, Luke still had hope and thought Vader was capable of redemption. This allowed him to take on Palpatine and Vader aboard the second Death Star and therefore allowed Luke to tease the goodness in his father.

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Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
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The third film released and the sixth film chronologically in the Star Wars Saga, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is a sci-fi epic adventure film that continues the adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, and friends as they battle against the Empire. After a narrow escape but crushing defeat at the hands of the empire, the rebel alliance learns that a new Death Star has been constructed above the moon of Endor. With the war reaching its conclusion, the heroes will team with the forest planet’s inhabitants and prepare themselves for one final showdown with Darth Vander and the Galactic Empire.

Director Richard Marquand Release Date May 25, 1983 Writers Lawrence Kasdan , George Lucas Cast Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher , Harrison Ford , James Earl Jones , Billy Dee Williams , Ian McDiarmid , Peter Mayhew , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , David Prowse , Frank Oz , Sebastian Shaw , Alec Guinness

2 How Old Is Luke Skywalker In The Mandalorian & The Book Of Boba Fett?

The Jedi Made A Surprise Return to Star Wars

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Mark Hamill made a surprise return to Star Wars to play Luke Skywalker once again for The Mandalorian season 2 finale. In his appearance, Luke saves Din Djarin and his allies from Moff Gideon’s Dark Troopers, taking them down with ease. Luke comes to find Grogu and eventually takes the little green creature to train as a Jedi. Luke’s appearance in the season 2 finale was entirely unexpected, but an extremely welcome appearance.

When he appears again in The Book of Boba Fett, it’s clear that the 28-year-old Jedi had grown into his own in more ways than one. Not only is Luke’s ability to use the Force much more impressive than when he appeared in Return of the Jedi, but he also knows more about the Jedi Order and is actively looking to rebuild it. Luke seemingly found his purpose in training the next generation of Jedi, and it was amazing to see how he was as a teacher when, for so long, he was merely a student of the Force.

Mark Hamill shared the role of Luke Skywalker with Max Lloyd-Jones and Graham Hamilton, who acted as Luke’s body double/stand in for The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett respectively.

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The Mandalorian
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The Mandalorian is set after the Empire’s fall and before the First Order’s emergence in the ever-growing Star Wars universe. The series follows the travails of a lone gunfighter named Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. Acting as the first live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian has become incredibly popular on Disney+, partly due to Mando’s relationship with Grogu, which the internet dubbed “Baby Yoda” upon his introduction in season 1.

Cast Werner Herzog , Emily Swallow , Pedro Pascal , Nick Nolte , Omid Abtahi , Gina Carano , Carl Weathers , Giancarlo Esposito Release Date November 12, 2019 Seasons 3 Streaming Service(s) Disney+ Franchise(s) Star Wars Writers Jon Favreau Directors Jon Favreau , Taika Waititi , Bryce Dallas Howard Showrunner Jon Favreau

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Luke Skywalker in The Book of Boba Fett with Grogu looking over his shoulder in The Mandalorian
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1 How Old Was Luke Skywalker In The Force Awakens & The Last Jedi?

Mark Hamill Returned to Play An Older Luke

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One of the best aspects of the Star Wars sequel trilogy is that it was able to bring back so much of the original cast from the original trilogy. This included Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. Though Luke only appeared in the final seconds of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he was a big part of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Many fans didn’t agree with the direction Luke’s character went in The Last Jedi, as he was seen as a disillusioned old man. However, at 53, Luke Skywalker had gone through great loss after great loss.

It was revealed that Luke’s Jedi Academy, which was seen in its infancy in The Book of Boba Fett, was burned to the ground after his nephew Ben Solo turned to the dark side and became Kylo Ren. Luke felt like a failure and that the Jedi should not continue. Like most members of the Skywalker family, Luke died young, but it was after protecting his sister and the Resistance one last time. By the time of The Last Jedi, Luke was no longer young and optimistic like in the original trilogy, but instead a realist who saw the flaws of the Jedi.

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Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
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In the second installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, General Leia Organa leads the Resistance forces against the First Order. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker struggles to come to terms with his past failures, while Rey urges him to train her in the Force and join the resistance. Culminating in a massive battle between the two armies, The Last Jedi raises the stakes of this intergalactic war, and sees the final fight of one beloved character.

Director Rian Johnson Release Date December 15, 2017 Studio(s) Lucasfilm Distributor(s) Disney Writers Rian Johnson Cast Daisy Ridley , Oscar Isaac , Mark Hamill , Carrie Fisher , John Boyega , Adam Driver , Andy Serkis , Lupita Nyong’o , Anthony Daniels , Gwendoline Christie , Kelly Marie Tran , Laura Dern Runtime 152 Minutes Franchise(s) Star Wars Budget $317 million

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Luke Skywalker is one of the most iconic characters in cinema history, and it’s amazing that the Star Wars franchise has been able to follow him through so much of his life. Audiences have seen Luke at most of the major milestones in his life and how each of these moments changed him for better or for worse. While knowing Luke’s age throughout his different appearances in Star Wars isn’t necessary to understand his motivations, it does help inform his overall character.

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Star Wars

Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.

Created by George Lucas First Film Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope Cast Mark Hamill , James Earl Jones , David Prowse , Carrie Fisher , Harrison Ford , Daisy Ridley , Adam Driver , Ian McDiarmid , Ewan McGregor , Rosario Dawson , Lars Mikkelsen , Rupert Friend , Moses Ingram , Frank Oz , Pedro Pascal TV Show(s) The Mandalorian , Andor , Obi-Wan Kenobi , The Book of Boba Fett , Ahsoka , The Acolyte , Star Wars: Skeleton Crew , Lando , Star Wars: The Clone Wars , Star Wars Rebels , Star Wars: The Bad Batch , Star Wars: Resistance , Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures , Star Wars: Visions

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