Pablo Hidalgo on Luke’s Green Lightsaber and Why Anakin’s Lightsaber is Now Considered Rey’s by the Folks at Lucasfilm
Just like what they did last year with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Vanity Fair is covering Star Wars: The Last Jedi this week for their summer issue with an exclusive never-before-seen look at the next installment of the 40-year-old franchise. The most recent article just posted by Vanity Fair discusses Rey’s lightsaber in The Last Jedi and why Lucasfilm decided to give her ownership over the classic weapon.
It is getting harder and harder to stay completely spoiler free on Star Wars: The Last Jedi, especially with such stunning photos, interviews and behind-the-scenes videos from the set rolling out over the last couple of days. During the past few days Vanity Fair has revealed four exclusive covers and several additional photos from its exclusive first look at the Rian Johnson-helmed sci-fi adventure. The exclusive covers and additional photos were shot by legendary celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, who has taken numerous portraits of characters from the Star Wars universe over the decades.
Today, Vanity Fair continues its coverage from the epic photo shoot with even more details. Variety writer David Kemp got an inside scoop about the photo shoots of Hamill as Luke and Carrie Fisher as his twin sister, General Leia Organa together. Apparently, VF‘s very own senior photography producer Kathryn MacLeod, came up with a last minute idea of getting an up-to-date photo of the two Star Wars stars together. This eleventh-hour idea gives fans one last chance to see Fisher more vibrant than ever, a much appreciated gift since her passing last December.
Also, Vanity Fair‘s Joanna Robinson received some interesting new details about the reason why Luke’s lightsaber is green in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Robinson caught up with Pablo Hidalgo, one of the members of the Lucasfilm Story Group, and he revealed the previously unknown reason as to why the saber color was changed.
“The intent was the lightsaber was going to be blue,” Hidalgo explains of the story that has passed into Star Wars lore. “In that universe, at that time, as far as anyone knew, lightsabers were red or they were blue.” But Luke’s weapon was changed to green so it would stand out against the bright blue sky and yellow sand, in scenes such as the Jedi’s daring rescue of Han, Leia, and the rest. “As much as we like to mythologize why it’s green and what that all signifies,” Hidalgo explains, “sometimes there are very pragmatic filmmaking reasons behind these things.”
Pablo also goes on to explain that the saber is attached to the person who actually built it.
“In general,” Hidalgo explains, “a lightsaber belongs to the person who constructed it.” Obviously not the case here with Rey. “In The Force Awakens, Maz says that the saber is calling to Rey now. Whether or not it’s literally calling to her to become hers or it’s calling to her because she knows it will be taken back to Luke—we’ll see,” Hidalgo hints.
Either way, the blade is no longer considered Anakin’s lightsaber by the Lucasfilm marketing department. It has now officially been dubbed “Rey’s.” As for that green lightsaber Luke made for himself, it has yet to resurface in any of the marketing materials surrounding the current trilogy. Has Luke abandoned it along with, potentially, his faith in the Jedi way? Will we see Luke wield it again in The Last Jedi?
Hidalgo says vaguely yet reassuringly: “We take to heart the lesson that Obi-Wan tried to impart to Anakin: ‘This weapon is your life.’ We’re not ones to lose track of lightsabers.”
And here’s another explanation by Hidalgo about the name change:
Let’s be honest here – Vanity Fair is doing a fantastic job rolling out the incredible and interesting first hand details about the upcoming next chapter in the Star Wars saga. The theory of what happened to Luke’s original green saber in the Star Wars Universe will continue to be hotly debated, I’m sure, we’ll most likely get the definitive answer – in Rian Johnson’s film or maybe even in Colin Trevorrow’s Episode IX.
I personally think Luke has evolved beyond the lightsaber…. but I still want to see the saber, perhaps on a ledge or during a conversation with Rey on the island refuge that he’s been hiding at for the last 30 years. I Guess We’ll Wait & See.
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May the force be with you….
That Pablo, always a class act… not
No, he is. Fans can be rather stupid sometimes. He did nothing classless there.
Love Pablo, dude can shut down a stupid fan theory in the most gloriously deadpan ways. Respect. I did not see it in the article but Pablo said that Luke would probably adhere to the knowledge that Obi tried to impart on Anakin “This weapon is your life” so that kind of hints luke still has his green saber.
Yup, Pablo’s words pretty much confirm – for me – that Luke has his lightsabre under his overcloak. It’s certainly darn convenient that all the publicity pix of Luke keep his appearance vague and covered up….
Have to agree with Vanity Fair doing a fantastic job with its The Last Jedi commentary. Best coverage so far of a new SW movie.
It’s not Anakin’s anymore and frankly, it was always Luke’s to me because he is the only one we see use it until Episode 3.
And even then, it’s not some sacred thing to Anakin. It’s another lightsaber for him, one of many he likely used, given how often Jedi seem to misplace them.
It was Anakin’s, then Luke’s and now Rey’s. This isn’t an insult to Anakin. Fans are babies.
Anakin had the lightsaber for what, two years? Luke had it for three.
Obi-Wan Kenobi had that lightsaber in his possession for twenty years.
Luke is wearing his lightsaber in the Ewok celebration scene at the end of ROTJ. Is there still a debate about what happened to it?
“on the island refuge that he’s been hiding at for the last 30 years.”
Luke is not on this island for 30 years, Ben Solo was still the Jedi apprentice of Luke 6 years before TFA (source the canon novel Bloodline), and Luke went for the First Jedi Temple (the island) after Ben’s fall to the dark side.
That’s nothing but good news, it raises the possibilities that Luke has his own Lightsaber, hopefully the one from ROTJ, cause that’s my all time favorite lightsaber
Lightsabers don’t have names and therefore aren’t renamed. It was referred to as Luke’s when Luke used it, Anakin’s when Anakin used it, and obviously now that Rey is using it, it will be referred to as Rey’s.
Also, the “green so that it could be seen onscreen” thing is new information? How then did I know that for 20 years?
No one here is saying it’s new information…but not everyone might know it.
Did you read the article?
“Also, Vanity Fair‘s Joanna Robinson received some interesting new details about the reason why Luke’s lightsaber is green in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Robinson caught up with Pablo Hidalgo, one of the members of the Lucasfilm Story Group, and he revealed the previously unknown reason as to why the saber color was changed.”
Ah, yes. I did read the article, I said “No one here.” Meaning no one on the website. Star Wars fans and the level of knowledge we have is different than say, a writer for Vanity Fair, who likely was learning that for the first time.
See how both can be true?
Ok so you meant “no one here except the writer here on this very webpage that we’re discussing.” My mistake.
no, that was my mistake. I read the article earlier on Vanity Fair and I skimmed the summary on this site. I mistook your comments. My apologies.
It’s all good.
So I reckon the writer of this article on this site didn’t know that. It happens. But it is not new information. You are correct.
Actually… that lightsaber is mine. I used that toy saber more than I ever saw it on screen!
But yes, have to agree that VF is doing a very nice job with this coverage
Makes sense. I got that impression with the whole Flashback(I refuse to call it a Force back because that name is stupid) with Rey in Maz’s castle. But in all seriousness, I feel bad for that Lightsaber. Seriously, between being responsible for murdering children, taken in by Luke/ lost by Luke, taken in by Rey; that weapon has gone through a lot.
I know that Kyber crystals are sentient in the NC, but I’d like to joke that the weapon needs to go through some extensively therapy, because seriously that crystal within the weapon must have abandonment issues. 🙂
Lightsabers don’t kill people. People kill people. If you come for our lightsabers, people determined to kill will find other ways.
Wise words. I was trying to make a joke, but perhaps I went too far. Still, it is amusing when you think of how much that weapon has been through. It’s like the near constant within the franchise. Outside of R2 and C3P0.
I know, I was just rolling with the joke by replacing lightsabers for pro gun arguments in the US.
My view on firearms, I’ll plead the fifth. But for Lightsabers I’ll be terrified, because you’d know if they existed we’d see a lot of people accidentally slicing off their own hands and limbs by swinging it out recklessly.
Which would be a bit funny, but also terrifying. Hence, why I’d elect for Lightsaber training classes. 🙂
What about a five day waiting period or ban on assault lightsabers?
I don’t think five days is long enough. More like a week. You know how devastating they might be if that was the case? As for a ban on assault Lightsabers, sure if they are Darkside blades. In Legends they were synthetic crystals and more often a lot stronger. So if, we equate them to military grade guns as opposed to civilian, then sure; I support it. 🙂
Look at Darth Maul. No one needs that many blades for Bantha hunting!
Take the chance of cutting one’s limbs off with a Lightsaber and double it with that weapon. In all seriousness, in Legends, a lot of Jedi didn’t encourage the use of the Saber staff because of extra amount of discipline one needed. There are cases of Jedi accidentally slicing off their limbs and even decapitating themselves with it. As such, the weapon was really reserved for those disciplined enough to handle it.
So really, I can see a weapon like that being really dangerous in the hands of ordinary citizens in the US. I can picture those stupid Youtube videos about people doing dumb things with a saberstaff. 🙂
Don’t see any big deal…She’ll keep it until she makes her own, that’s when you become a Jedi after all. It would be nice to see some collector show up in the movies with various lightsabers in glass or something. Maybe one of Windu’s hand still holding his saber too!
I’m sure Luke has moved beyond a saber, but would really like to see him use it again! Hoping we see EU Luke!!!!
EU Luke?
yup…Luke at his most iconic and powerful! Back in the EU (don’t care for the name they give it as legends)
Eh, I didn’t like everything they did with him there. But some of it was good.
Also, his most iconic is in the movies for certain, but I digress
You certainly can’t like it all and there was a lot…but for the most part, he was bad ass!!! Young movie Luke was just okay for me. Though, I loved the saber scenes.
I hope he still has the green saber. It would be cool if they showed more colors again like purple or yellow
“I personally think Luke has evolved beyond the lightsaber….”
So 800 year old Yoda, considered one of the most powerful Jedi ever, uses a light saber.
Palpatine used a light saber.
Qui Gon used a lightsaber.
Old Ob1 used a lightsaber.
But Luke has evolved beyond one?
The further we get from the EU, the more I want to go back.
Everyone you mention was locked into the Jedi/ Sith dogma, and even then, Yoda and Palpatine did not use sabers at the end of their lives.
There are certainly enough clues that TLJ involves either an evolution of the Jedi or a return to a lost, purer philosophy (the book shown in the trailer.) So, yes, it is quite possible that through Luke’s personal journey, he may not feel compelled to wield one any more.
Palpatine was still using a lightsaber in Lords Of The Sith which is only 14 before Yavin. And it is yet to be determined if Yoda still had his lightsaber since there was no need for him to take it out. Who’s to say what would have happened if Luke completed his training. Also isn’t it an assumption to say Luke is at the end of his life? What is the average life span of someone from alderaan or Tatooine? What’s the average life span of someone with a high midichlorian count? I would say the dogma is in assuming characters from the Star Wars universe follow the same rules as humans on Earth. The Jedi/Sith dogma is what people want. I for one don’t want to watch “Luke the White”.
Yoda and Palpatine never should have had lightsabers. That was one of Lucas’ fuck-ups in the prequels.
The only fuck-up with Yoda and Palpatines light sabers is that they didn’t use them more.
It completely contradicts BOTH of their characters. Yoda’s whole purpose in ESB was teach us about the Force equalizes people despite physical differences. When he hops around with a lightsaber to compensate for his lack of physical strength, he completely fucks up that lesson. As for Palpatine, he shot Force Lightning because he was SO EVIL that he didn’t need a lightsaber. He even calls Luke’s lightsaber a “Jedi weapon”. And yet, he has not just one lightsaber, but TWO!
Both characters get shat on by having lightsabers. It shows George Lucas’ complete lack of understanding of his own characters and story.
If they are doing away with the Jedi and Sith then I hope they are finally open to using more blade colors than the generic blue, red, green, and purple. One thing that the PT dropped the ball on.
This is an O U T R A G E !!!!!!
…not.