The Mandalorian brought back another major Star Wars character – and broke the internet

The Mandalorian
(Image credit: Disney)

The Mandalorian season 2 ended with a triumphant bang. Not only was Chapter 16 a remarkable adventure through that galaxy far, far away, but the finale brought back a Star Wars character few people expected to see again on screen. And yet, here we are, with *that* person back. 

Before we go into anything more, a spoiler warning: we're about to dive into exactly what happens during the Mandalorian season 2 finale. If you have not witnessed the wonderful episode, then turn back now! If you have, then keep reading.

The Mandalorian

(Image credit: LucasFilm)

Still here? Then you know that Luke Skywalker has returned! Mark Hamill's back as the famous Star Wars character, though with his face made younger by some CGI shenanigans. During the Mandalorian finale, the Jedi Knight saves the day, arriving on Moff Gideon's cruiser and fighting his way to Baby Yoda/Grogu and Din Djarin.

Few people thought The Mandalorian would actually bring back Luke Skywalker. Boba Fett had been long rumoured to make an appearance, but Luke? That was one of the most closely guarded secrets in Star Wars history.

With nobody expecting Luke to appear, Hamil reprising the role has sent Star Wars fans loopy. "I just cried," wrote one person on Twitter, and they were not alone.

Of course, the revelation that Luke took Grogu away for Jedi training leaves a lot of questions. Namely: what will happen when Ben solo turns evil? Will he... kill Grogu? We can only hope that Mando comes and saves the day before any such fate befalls our small, green friend. But that doesn't mean we're not all worried.

So, what next for Luke Skywalker? We'll have to wait and see, but no doubt there are plans for the character to continue appearing in that galaxy far, far away. Will Hamill stay on board as CGI Luke? Or will they recast him?

In the meantime, we have a Boba Fett spin-off series to look forward to. Plus, if you want to know more, here's all the new Star Wars movies coming our way over the next few years.

Jack Shepherd
Freelance Journalist

Jack Shepherd is the former Senior Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar. Jack used to work at The Independent as a general culture writer before specializing in TV and film for the likes of GR+, Total Film, SFX, and others. You can now find Jack working as a freelance journalist and editor.

Latest in TV
George R.R. Martin
Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has a new update on The Winds of Winter: "I wish it would come faster"
Lois and Peter in Family Guy season 23
After 11 years, Family Guy suddenly brings back a deep-cut character for season 23
George R. R. Martin in Dark Winds season 3
Game of Thrones creator makes sudden cameo in TV show for apparent joke about The Winds of Winter
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again had Disney Plus' biggest premiere of 2025, but its viewership is lower than Agatha All Along and The Acolyte
True Detective
Matthew McConaughey still thinks his own season of True Detective is the best one: "It was one of the great events in TV"
Diego Luna in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner Tony Gilroy calls Cassian “Star Wars Jesus” ahead of the show’s return on Disney Plus
Latest in News
inZOI Character Studio screenshot showing a young woman with short black/pink hair, black cat-like ears, and a black blouse with a bowtie
The creator of upcoming life sim Inzoi says he was "recklessly brave to even think about creating a game of this scale"
Rise of the Ronin
A year after its PS5 launch, Rise of the Ronin debuts on PC to "Mixed" reviews and performance complaints: "Stuttering on a 4090 is just... no"
Rise of the Ronin's photo mode offers some wonderful shots
On the heels of Rise of the Ronin's PC launch, its director says there's a "significant" amount of Japanese Switch gamers: "I am closely watching how this will change with the release of Switch 2"
Stardew Valley Castle Village mod
Stardew Valley Expanded creator is building an "even more ambitious" mod with a whole new city and "dungeons inspired by The Legend of Zelda"
Dino Crisis 2 art showing a young woman and man back-to-back amid tall green grass, both with their weapons drawn
Dino Crisis gets a fresh trademark filing by Capcom, but it might not mean the 26-year-old survival horror franchise will get a new installment like fans expect
Cujo
Netflix is making a brand new adaptation of Cujo, the infamous Stephen King book about a killer dog