For enthusiasts of the Star Wars saga, the question of whether Luke Skywalker could find marriage in his future has long been a topic of speculation. Initial impressions may have suggested that marriage held no relevance for Jedi Knights, particularly given that Luke’s father was a Jedi and the mystical nature of the Force seemed to promise a legacy of strong familial ties.
Writers within the Star Wars Expanded Universe (EU) echoed this sentiment, depicting instances of Jedi marrying in the ancient past and following the events of Return of the Jedi. However, the landscape shifted dramatically with the release of Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, which firmly established that Jedi are prohibited from marrying due to the Order’s strict rules against emotional attachments. Though this guideline appeared to close the door on the possibility, creator George Lucas hinted at other possibilities back in 1997.
Lucas Doesn’t Actually Seem To Mind The Idea Of Luke Skywalker Marrying
An Open Door in a 1997 Interview
In a news segment with Youth TV, Lucas was asked directly if Luke Skywalker would ever marry. Despite his later establishment of Jedi rules, he displayed an openness towards the idea at that time:
Question: Will Luke Skywalker ever get married?
Lucas: Not in the next three, since he is not born (laugh)
Question: In the final trilogy?
Lucas: Humm, I don’t know….. I’m not sure which kind of characters will be in the sequels. Nothing definitive. We’ll have to wait and see.
This response reflects a moment of uncertainty concerning the narrative direction of the series, as Lucas was primarily focused on completing Episode I: The Phantom Menace. During this time, he had not yet solidified the Jedi’s doctrine of non-attachment. However, Lucas later voiced opposing views, indicating his evolving stance on the matter in a 2008 Total Film interview:
And now there have been novels about the events after Episode VI, which isn’t at all what I would have done with it. The Star Wars story is really the tragedy of Darth Vader. That is the story. Once Vader dies, he doesn’t come back to life, the Emperor doesn’t get cloned and Luke doesn’t get married…
Despite these claims, Lucas eventually began developing his own sequel narrative before selling the franchise to Disney, which leaves the possibility of him reconceptualizing the idea of Luke marrying.
Luke Skywalker Did Marry In The Old Star Wars Expanded Universe
Luke’s Union with Mara Jade
Within the confines of the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Luke Skywalker did indeed marry. In Timothy Zahn’s Star Wars: Heir to the Empire published in 1991, readers were introduced to Mara Jade, a character initially sworn to kill Luke, who eventually allied with him. This dynamic evolved into a deep romantic relationship.
Following their development through the novels, Luke formally proposed to Mara in Zahn’s “Hand of Thrawn”duology, culminating in their marriage depicted in the comic series Star Wars: Union in 1999, where they welcomed their son, Ben Skywalker. Notably, even amidst the Jedi’s marriage restrictions, Luke defied traditions, expressing his unwillingness to enforce these rules, illustrating his profound bond with Mara.
While Lucas himself did not endorse the Expanded Universe as part of his official canon, any such developments would have required his approval, suggesting he was at least somewhat receptive to the portrayal of Luke’s marriage.
Star Wars Canon Seems To Have Abandoned The Idea Of Jedi Marrying
The Absence of a Marriage in Official Canon
Following the rebranding of the Expanded Universe as “Legends”in 2014, the current Star Wars canon tightly adheres to the idea that Jedi do not marry, benefiting narrative consistency. The stories in the EU predated the clarity Lucas offered in the prequels regarding Jedi marital restrictions.
Post Return of the Jedi, there is a notable lack of evidence supporting Luke’s marriage or any significant romantic interest. He refrains from clarifying his position on marriage within his reestablished Jedi Order and offers seemingly contradictory insights throughout various timelines. In the novelization of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Luke expresses his disagreement with the Jedi’s non-attachment doctrine, yet his actions as a Jedi Master often align with traditional views.
Influenced by Ahsoka Tano’s concerns over emotional attachments leading students astray, Luke nevertheless trained Leia as a Jedi, despite her having a family. This may indicate that his views had shifted over time, especially after the tragic loss of his students.
As we look toward future narratives, particularly in the upcoming New Jedi Order film featuring Rey, there remains the tantalizing prospect that a more modern interpretation of Jedi teachings might allow for marital unions, redefining the traditional stance held by both Luke Skywalker and George Lucas.