Star Wars: The Last Jediwas full of many surprises, but quite possibly the best surprise of them all was the inclusion of the old Jedi Master Yoda as a Force Ghost. Yoda helped bring light and understanding to Luke’s confused state after Rey left Ahch-To, and he brought his wisdom back to the screen that we have missed so much. And it seems that wisdom may continue inStar Wars 9.
The Last Jedimay have received a lot of hate from long-term Star Wars fans, but one moment that almost everyone enjoyed was Yoda. After this positive reception to theForce Ghost, rumor has it that Lucasfilm is planning on bringing Yoda back in a larger role forStar Wars 9, where he will give mentorship to Rey as she continues to grow in her strength. The rumor first surfaced from New York Daily News, who claimed to have an anonymous inside source who was connected toEpisode IX.
“The success of the scenes featuring Yoda inThe Last Jediwere huge,” said the insider. “Yoda will again appear as a ghost as he acknowledges Rey’s success and growth as a Jedi. The scenes are due to be put together later this year.”
This is great new for all Yoda fans, as many people have wanted to see more of the 900 year-old Jedi. Since his first appearance inThe Empire Strikes Back, Yoda has been a favorite among many Star Wars fans. Not only was a major highlights ofThe Empire Strikes Back, but he was also one of the best parts of the prequel trilogy.
Frank Oz, the puppeteer and voice actor of Yoda, has previously stated that he was unsure about the future of the character and if he would be involved in future installments. However, if the rumors of Yoda returning inEpisode IXare to be believed, then it is very likely that Oz will choose to return to the role. Yoda is one of Oz’s favorite characters to play, which is why Oz returned to voice Yoda in bothThe Force AwakensandThe Last Jedi.
Additionally, bringing Yoda back forStar Wars: Episode IXwould be a smart idea from Lucasfilm on the financial side if they are still planning on giving Yoda his own spin-off. While there is no official confirmation yet on whether or not the Jedi Master will actually receive his own solo film, it has been revealed that Lucasfilm does at least have the project in development. Whether or not it actually comes into fruition may depend on the success ofSolo: A Star Wars Storynext month.
Assuming theYoda spin-offdoes happen though, Lucasfilm would be foolish not to bring him back for a larger role inEpisode IX. Bringing Yoda back into the spotlight will undoubtedly put him back into people’s minds, so that hopefully the spin-off will be able to sell more tickets. It would be a rather smart play on the part of Lucasfilm, in addition to providing a much-needed mentor character for the ninth installment in theStar Warssaga.
While this rumor from theNew York Daily Newsshould be taken with a grain of salt, it would be rather interesting and entertaining to see Yoda return inEpisode 9. Considering that Han Solo and Luke Skywalker are no longer in the picture, and thatPrincess Leia will not be appearing in the movie after the death of Carrie Fisher, Rey will be in need of a mentor yet again, and who would be better than the former Master of the Jedi himself?
