Guaranteed Force Ghosts? Ep 7,8,9

[ALF]

I fully realize there is a fine ongoing discussion here about Mace Windu: http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=196870

However, since the news broke about 7 8 and 9 one of the first things I've been unable to get out of my head is... are we basically guaranteed to see already established force ghosts? I'm curious about the whole force ghost thing in general and who we could reasonably expect to see in the new trilogy.

The way I see it, we have three force ghosts that should show up no matter what:

Anakin (Hayden), Yoda (Oz) and Obi-Wan (MacGregor).



Since those three are the only ones who took the time to learn the proper method of turning into a force spirit at their moment of death... shouldn't it reason that we are to see them in 2015?

The holdout (I assumed) would have been MacGregor. I seem to recall reading in the last few years a sound bite from him suggesting that he did not recall fondly his stint as a Jedi and regretted the whole thing. Therefore I assumed getting a force ghost Obi-Wan in future SW films was unlikely... but there you go. Apparently he's up for it.

As read on TheForce.net: "I guess, yeah, of course," he said when asked about the reprisal. "I mean, if they need me, yeah, I'd be happy (to return)."

So, he'd have to be aged dramatically to appear like Sir Alec Guiness. Right?

Is there a chance that the new SW-Disney(TM) films will somehow forgo force ghosting? I doubt it, if they want to remain true to the SW universe. I think they'll have to deal with it somehow.

I wondered if force ghosting might be considered too occult or non-Christian to Disney... but that seems unlikely since past Star Wars films set a precedent (though I somehow doubt they'll include any more decapitations).

In fact, one could extrapolate the SW plot devices to conclude that either Luke or Leia will end up as the "mysterious mentor" figure to the new hero and have to die at the end of episode VII, making one of them the new force ghost. The theory that George let slip: 7,8 and 9 were always planned to be set 60 years after ROTJ. So Luke and Leia will be pushing the limits of their human lifespans.

Anyway... does it go without saying that Anakin, Yoda and Obi-Wan's appearances are a given... even guaranteed, or perhaps Disney will decide to avoid the gimmick of force-ghosting altogether?

Could a plot device somehow impede the ability of force spirits to manifest? It seems obvious that Sith play some role in the villainy this next time... without them would it bear the name Star Wars?

 

[RoJoHen]

I think I'd personally prefer there to be no force ghosts at all, but if we have to have one, I'd like it to be Yoda talking to an older Luke Skywalker.

 

[bigdaddy]

It's not like the ghosts where a huge deal in the past Star Wars movies, why are we making such a big deal about them now?

If it fits the story, add them in, if not than don't.

 

[ALF]

I don't think we're making a big deal about them.
Just wondering how likely they are. It's a part of the past two trilogies that maintained a high level of curiosity.

 

[od0_ital]

Anakin "took the time," really?

Before the prequels, it was easy to assume ghost was just the next step for dead Jedi.

As for the next chapters, why not get Mark Hamill as a force ghost? Dead Luke! Who's with me?

 

[Set Harth]

Before the prequels, it was easy to assume ghost was just the next step for dead Jedi.

Only if you ignore Vader's confusion at Obi-Wan's disappearance.

 

[ALF]

So... apparently Anakin did disappear... off-screen presumably. When Luke was dragging him into the shuttle to leave Death Star II.

From Wookiepedia:

Anakin Skywalker
It is explicitly stated in Champions of the Force and the Databank on the official site that the organic part of Anakin's body disappeared, and that Luke just burned his suit and mechanical parts for ritualistic purposes.

And more on the point of the prequel trilogy 'retconning' the ghosting issue:

"Many questions arose during The Phantom Menace, when Qui-Gon Jinn's body did not vanish after his duel with Darth Maul, and instead was cremated on a Jedi funeral pyre like Vader. In Revenge of the Sith it is made known that "dying AND maintaining one's identity" is not in fact what happens to every Jedi, but an ability acquired by Qui-Gon's spirit and passed on to Yoda and Obi Wan.

On the other hand, Qui-Gon Jinn was the first character to show Star Wars audiences that not all Jedi became Force ghosts upon dying (by virtue of his body not disappearing at death), but he was established in Attack of the Clones as a voice to Anakin Skywalker, and also in Revenge of the Sith as the first G-canon character to learn how to become a Force ghost, despite his body not disappearing at death. The implication is that one can learn how to be a Force ghost even after dying a standard death. Mara Jade Skywalker did something similar after dying. She only faded away when Jacen (secretly Darth Caedus) entered the room in a last ditch effort to inform the Jedi about him, which would seem to imply that a Force user who has mastered the ability to turn into a Force ghost has control of their body."

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Force_ghost

 

[Set Harth]

So... apparently Anakin did disappear...

Contradicted by Lucas on the ROTJ DVD commentary. Also, Wookiee is not spelled like Cookie.

On the other hand, Qui-Gon Jinn was the first character to show Star Wars audiences that not all Jedi became Force ghosts upon dying

This is wrong. Qui-Gon became a Force ghost, but was not visible.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Force ghosts are the new Heads in jars.