Fans of the Star Wars franchise are waiting (somewhat) patiently for each and every new update regarding J.J. Abram’s Star Wars: Episode IX. Aside from the additions of Keri Russell and Billy Dee Williams, casting has been scarce. This may be why Mark Hamill decided to have some fun online by announcing his own surprise cast member.
The actor chimed in Wednesday with a tongue-in-cheek “reveal” of Abrams’s latest casting with a photo of Luke Skywalker’s empty robe from Star Wars: The Last Jedi with the message, “BREAKING NEWS: #StarWars #EpisodeIX writer/director JJ Abrams casts Empty Robe in latest installment of much anticipated space-saga.”
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BREAKING NEWS: #StarWars #EpisodeIX writer/director JJ Abrams casts Empty Robe in latest installment of much anticipated space-saga. pic.twitter.com/4YW2eO7Nlm
— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) July 18, 2018
Of course, Hamill’s Luke Skywalker sacrificed himself in a Jedi dual against his nephew, Kylo Ren, in The Last Jedi. Once Luke passed on to the afterlife, all that remained was his hooded robe, similar to how his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi died in Star Wars: A New Hope.
Directed by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: Episode IX will star Daisy Ridley as Rey, John Boyega as Finn, Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian and Keri Russell in a currently unnamed role.
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