‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens' official poster: Reasons why Luke Skywalker is missing

Actor Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the original "Star Wars" trilogy, speaks to a boy during the Star Wars Celebration Europe exhibition at the Excel Centre in London July 13, 2007 . REUTERS/Luke MacGregor Reuters/Luke MacGregor

Disney and Lucasfilm recently revealed the official poster for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” The three new casts, Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn) and Adam Driver (Kylo Ren) are obviously featured in the photo along with Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew). However, Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) is missing on the poster and a report claimed there are two reasons why he’s not featured.

According to Cinema Blend’s Eric Eisenberg, Luke Skywalker not appearing on the poster is all about keeping the character’s mystery with regard to his appearance on the film. Movie director J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm reportedly want fans to keep guessing whether the Jedi Master will really be in the film even though Hamill’s name is included in the cast list. Eisenberg added that Luke “doesn’t actually appear in the film until the third act,” so it’s probably why he is not in the poster. This way when he does appear on screen viewers will be surprised.

Another reason, according to Eisenberg, involves the iconic character’s change in physical appearance in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Luke may have suffered a great deal of facial damage resulting to a scar or worse, as Eisenberg said, “a missing eye.” This could supposedly be another reason why he is left out of the official poster to hide his identity.

A source once revealed that Luke has drastically changed in terms of physical appearances in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” During his years of self-exile, he has grown a scraggy beard and his hair has grown longer and turned grey.

“This Luke is wizened but crazed, his eyes twitch and are bloodshot, his robe is tattered, ripped” the source said.

Fans have not seen a glimpse of Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” be it from the poster or in the movie previews or trailers. There was a brief tease to the character in the second trailer. The cloaked figure with the robotic hand touching R2D2 is believed to be the Jedi Master. (See video below at the 0:45 time stamp). However, fans may never know Luke’s actual physical appearance until the movie comes out in the U.S. on Dec. 18.

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