Star Wars: What We Know About Luke Skywalker's ORIGINAL Death ...

Many avid Star Wars fans know that there is an entire Star Wars universe beyond the canon films known as Legends, which was deemed non-canon after Disney decided to reboot the franchise with Episodes VII-IX. The Legends universe is incredibly rich in Star Wars lore, and the lives of Luke, Han, and Leia differ greatly from the canon films. One of the many differences is the death of Luke Skywalker.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi depicts Luke's death during the Battle of Crait, in which he disappears and becomes a Force Ghost. However, the Legends version is entirely different. Although the cause of his death is never explicitly known, what fans can gather from diving into the Legends universe is fascinating.

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In the Legends canon, Luke lives an exciting, fulfilling life. He gets married, has a child, fights in many significant battles, starts the New Jedi Order, and becomes one of the most powerful Jedi Masters. He eventually dies sometime between 45 ABY and 130 ABY, however, it is never explicitly stated how. By investigating further into the Legends universe, readers can study the events leading up to Luke's death and possibly draw a conclusion.

One of the last wars Luke is involved in is the Second Civil War. He fights with the Galactic Alliance, which is a reformed and rebuilt Rebel Alliance, and wins the war. Out of the ashes rises a new Chief in State, who exiles Master Skywalker because she fears the Jedi will bring more chaos to the galaxy than peace. However, she is eventually overthrown, and the Jedi end Luke's exile.

This is one of the last times Luke makes an appearance in human form. Around 30 ABY, a new Sith order called "The One Sith" rises to power. This is approximately 15 years before the supposed timespan of Luke's death. The next time readers see Luke is in the form of a Force Ghost.

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Luke Skywalker's death is simply unacknowledged. Fans don't know what exactly happened to him. They don't know if he died in battle, if he died of old age, if he died in an X-Wing crash or something else. Even though Luke dies, his legacy lives on, with his Force Ghost and his descendant, Cade Skywalker.

Many years later, he appears to Cade, who is a former Jedi who turned away from the Light Side to become a pirate and bounty hunter. It is during this time that readers are introduced to Luke as a Force Ghost. Luke appears repeatedly to Cade, pleading with him to return to the Light Side as a Jedi.

Cade is resistant and uses death sticks to try to keep his ancestor's ghost away. Despite this, Luke continues to pursue Cade, warning him of his upcoming trials, urging him to ready himself by taking up his Jedi powers. Luke warns him that he is drifting closer to the Dark Side, and even if he tries to run from his destiny, the galaxy will always find him.

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It isn't until later, during the Battle of Coruscant, that Cade finally listens to Luke and embraces his Jedi fate. During this battle, he kills the Sith known as Darth Krayt, however, before Krayt's demise, he has infected Cade's mind, intending to take over his body.

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Cade takes his mother's ship and flies to a planet called Coruscant Prime, where he intends to burn Krayt's body to ensure he will never rise again. He also resolves to die himself, fearing that Krayt will take over his being. Again, in Cade's most critical hour, Luke appears to him, telling him that he could either give into fear and die or choose hope and live. Luke's persuasion saves Cade's life, and he does not follow Krayt to his grave.

The Star Wars Legends universe is expansive and grand. Though readers are never given an exact cause of Luke Skywalker's death, this non-canon universe gives fans a bigger picture of who he was and what kind of life he led. Either way, whether fans believe in The Last Jedi's version of his fate or the Legends' version, it's indisputable that Luke's legacy lives on in both versions of the Star Wars universe.

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