Star Wars’ Perfect Luke Skywalker Replacement Is Getting His Own Trilogy

Luke Skywalker proved to be the perfect protagonist in the original Star Wars trilogy, balancing the immature farm boy with the foolhardy hothead before growing into the legendary Jedi we know him to be today. His character arc is beautifully plotted out across the three films; his dynamic with his assorted mentors, clashes with his father, and ultimate acceptance of both the good and bad sides of his personality make for phenomenal entertainment. He will easily be remembered as one of the best protagonists in sci-fi, at the very least, and will undoubtedly enjoy an enduring legacy.

However, the time has absolutely come for the iconic character to be retired, and a new protagonist must take his place. While Rey certainly had her shot in the limelight (and may even continue to with an upcoming Rey-focused sequel), Luke's successor actually comes in a more surprising form. Now, this somewhat underrated character is due his own trilogy, one that could easily rival Luke Skywalker's and perhaps even surpass it in many ways. At the very least, this new protagonist is undeniably living up to the high standards set by Luke Skywalker all those years ago.

Star Wars Has A New Hero

One may have assumed that Star Wars' Luke Skywalker replacement would come from the movies, or even the many shows. However, I believe that isn't the case. Sure, Rey was an enjoyable presence to watch, and Daisy Ridley turned in an impassioned performance that could have made Rey the next Skywalker, but the often unwarranted levels of controversy surrounding her saw to it that she couldn't quite garner the same positive reception. Similarly, Din Djarin could have taken up the mantle, but his presence being limited mostly to the small screen, and the show's diminishing quality, largely squandered that opportunity.

This isn't the case for Cal Kestis, the protagonist of the Star Wars Jedi video game series. Portrayed phenomenally by Cameron Monaghan, Cal embodies a lot of the same traits that made Luke so endearing and engaging to watch, while also going in enough of a different direction to feel unique. He is fueled by the same rage Luke faced, burdened by the same innocence and immaturity, and blessed by the same sense of community, all of which make him a nuanced protagonist from which to explore the many facets of Star Wars' lore and the duality of man.

However, unlike Luke, Cal never quite fits into the chosen one narrative that's so prominent in science fiction literature. His stories tend to skew more toward character-centric adventures that still incorporate grand scale, but ultimately only affect Cal and his relationships more than feature world-ending stakes. This gives him the upper hand over all the aforementioned characters, as his stories feel simultaneously more relatable and less comically over-the-top, affording Cal the space to explore emotionally resonant narratives while still indulging in spectacle.

Could This Be The First Perfect Star Wars Trilogy?

It is for the above reasons that Cal's trilogy, which will be completed when the next Star Wars Jedi installment is released, could end up being the first perfect Star Wars trilogy. Of course, the other three have their merits, with the original sporting some of the best storytelling, the prequels an almost over-indulgent exploration of the universe's fascinating lore, and the sequel trilogy offering some of the best visuals and a terrific performance by Adam Driver. However, so far, the Star Wars Jedi trilogy has been the most consistent narratively, while offering an experience that the others simply can't.

Cal's journey is vastly more engaging than the prequel trilogy, more nuanced and exciting than the original trilogy, and vastly better written than the sequel trilogy. He is a more compelling protagonist than even Luke Skywalker himself, his retinue of companions more complex and dynamic, his villains more varied and emotionally engrossing. Sure, it isn't necessarily a competition, but were there to be one perfect Star Wars trilogy, my money would be on the Star Wars Jedi games.

It remains to be seen whether Respawn Entertainment can pull off the final installment and deliver as phenomenal an experience as this trilogy deserves. The pressure is certainly overwhelming, and the number of plot threads, emotional beats, and character arcs needed to be wrapped up is immense. However, considering just how excellent a grasp Respawn has on Star Wars and Cal's emotional journey, I absolutely believe that the Star Wars Jedi trilogy will not only be the best of the bunch, but will prove without a shadow of a doubt that Cal Kestis is the perfect replacement for Luke Skywalker.