Luke Starkiller joins Star Wars video game for May 4th celebrations


Concept art of Luke Starkiller and Darth Vader duelling with lightsabers

The original concept for Luke Skywalker has been realised in a video game as Luke Starkiller is added to LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

Added as part of the annual May 4th “Star Wars Day” Celebrations, fans can now play as the first version of George Lucas’ now iconic original protagonist.

Available now for free in LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, the Luke Starkiller playable character is designed after old concept art for the original Star Wars, now titled A New Hope.

Luke Starkiller LEGO Skywalker Saga minifig next to an image of a concept action figure from the 70s
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Cutesy Luke Starkiller in Lego form next to a concept classic action figure

Designed by Ralph McQuarrie, the original Star Wars artist, Luke Starkiller originally wore a gas mask over his face, similar to the Empire’s Death Troopers attachments. However, this was later changed for the basic Farm Boy look the character is known for.

In shooting drafts for the first Star Wars movie, Luke Skywalker was still referred to by his old character name. In fact, one draft of George Lucas’ screenplay was even called “Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Starkiller”.

Skywalker’s iconic actor Mark Hamill even referred to himself as Starkiller during filming for the original movie. These lines were reshot after the fact to replace his name with that of Luke Skywalker.

However, the Starkiller name did live on in the Star Wars fanbase for decades. LucasArts’ now non-canon video game series The Force Unleashed dubbed its protagonist Galen Marek as Starkiller, Darth Vader’s secret apprentice.

Furthermore, the final act of Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes place on Starkiller Base, an advanced Death Star created by The First Order.

According to interviews from George Lucas, the Starkiller name was changed due to connotations with American criminal Charles Manson. Due to the horrific murder of Sharon Tate, the moniker “Star Killer” was seen as inappropriate in Hollywood.

Nevertheless, the legacy of Luke Starkiller now lives on, even if it’s just in a virtual LEGO form.

If you’re looking for more Star Wars content, check out Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Taking place five years after Fallen Order, Cal Kestis searches for a new haven free from the Empire.

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