Mark Hamill so perfectly captures the essence of Luke Skywalker that it’s hard to imagine anyone else portraying that character. The Mandalorian, and its rich territory of potential tie-ins to other Star Wars stories, raises the possibility of a young Luke making an appearance.
Mark Hamill has gone on to voice cartoons, rule social media and other projects, and he’s ruled out a reappearance as an aged Luke in interviews. But, who could play a young Luke for a new generation?
Looking the same isn’t really the point of the exercise. It’s got to be someone who can capture that young heroism as it’s taking shape.
10 Fans Want Sebastian Stan
Sebastian Stan has emerged as the fan favorite. The idea has been gaining traction with Star Wars fans, with some even producing fan art that depicts Stan – a surprisingly accurate match visually – as the young Jedi to be. Hamill himself has even commented on the resemblance, and jokingly Tweeted about his “son” Stan. Whether or not Jon Favreau is in favor of the idea may be irrelevant. Stan is already busy with The Falcon and the Winter Soldier shoots, and the long delayed release of the Marvel TV series.
9 KJ Apa Has The Charisma
With his trademark shock of red hair, KJ Apa is the perfect Archie, as he plays on Riverdale. But, could he also be a great Luke? Back in 2019, some fan discussions posited Apa in the role. He certainly has the smile and charisma, and on Riverdale, he's shown he can portray a range of emotions from cocky to desperate and humble. As for the red hair...it's not natural anyway. A New Zealander with Maori heritage, his natural color is a dark brown.
8 Tye Sheridan Would Give Young Luke An Edge
Rising actor Tye Sheridan has got the sci-fi cred, having played Wade Watts in Ready Player One and Ben Goudy in Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, along with a young Scott Summers in X-Men: Apocalypse. He's also got the acting chops, as evidenced by his widely praised starring turn in The Night Clerk, even when the movie itself got middling reviews. His version of Luke would be a little edgier than Mark Hamill’s, one that might be more in tune with the 2020s.
7 Pierson Fodé Would Be A Camera-Friendly Luke
Pierson Fodé has certainly been busy the past couple of years, appearing in Dynasty, The Real Bros of Simi Valley, among others, and that's coming off a three year stint on The Bold and the Beautiful. He's currently filming the comedy The Man from Toronto with Woody Harrelson and Kevin Hart.
Pierson is camera-friendly, and, with two Emmy nominations under his belt, has the acting experience to flesh out the younger Luke in ways that the original three movies couldn’t touch on.
6 Ansel Elgort Is Tough With A Soft Side
Ansel Elgort was captivating in Baby Driver, and great as Augustus Waters in The Fault in Our Stars. He's currently hard at work on Tokyo Vice, a new series about an American reporter in Japan, and will star in the upcoming film adaptation of West Side Story, but if he could take the time out, he'd also be an excellent choice to play Luke. Ansel's got a sympathetic quality – the guy who can be tough, but will never lose his softer side.
5 Chai Hansen Has The Acting Chops
Chai Hansen was born in Thailand, but grew up in Australia. A track star at school, he got his first acting break when he landed a lead role in the Australian TV series Mako Mermaids. He's probably best known in North America for his role as Jordan Kyle in Shadowhunters: The Mortal Instruments, and as Monkey in Netflix's The New Legends of Monkey. He's got the on-screen charisma, and his cred in the fantasy and sci-fi genre. Since he's not attached to any other current big budget franchise, a turn as young Luke might be a good fit.
4 Finn Wolfhard Could Play Luke Instead Of Ben Solo
Finn Wolfhard has already gone on record as saying he'd like to play a younger version of Ben Solo. But, what about reaching back another generation to play Luke instead?
Finn has the kind of face and acting persona that can portray Luke's combination of naivete and brash courage, and make it look natural. For an actor, Ben's descent into the Dark Side may be a dream role, but Luke's budding Jedi potential would be another interesting role for Finn.
3 Caleb McLaughlin Has More Than Proven His Acting Talent
He’s sung on Broadway, danced on TV, and won awards for his role in Netflix’s Stranger Things. And, all that happened before turning 20. Caleb McLaughlin has won fans across the globe for his portrayal of Lucas Sinclair on Stranger Things, and it’s given him a well-earned spot in the science fiction genre. He’s got the energy and the acting talent to play Luke’s vulnerable moments as well as his gutsier ones, the comedy and the drama. He’d make an interesting choice for a young Luke.
2 Forrest Goodluck Is Convincing In Dramatic Action Roles
Forrest Goodluck is a Native American actor who got his first big break in a supporting role opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy in The Revenant. Since then, he's guested on TV and starred in the indie horror flick Blood Quantum. He was recently seen on Netflix's mini-series The Liberator, a World War II drama. His acting resume proves he's capable of fleshing out dramatic roles as well as action heroes, and would make a worthy version of Luke Skywalker.
1 Timothée Chalamet Would Get The Character’s Ups And Downs Right
While he’s best known till now for his role in Call Me by Your Name, that’s set to change for Timothée Chalamet with the release of the long awaited Dune movie in 2021. With a career that stretches back more than a decade, his acting abilities aren’t in question, and his standing in the world of fantasy is already assured. He’s also known for his sensitive performances in coming-of-age stories. In a story set before Episode IV, it seems like the ideal combination of experience to play a young and impressionable Luke.
