Luke Skywalker

fictional character

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 17, 2026

Quick Summary

Luke Skywalker is a central character in the Star Wars franchise, created by George Lucas. He is introduced as a young man embroiled in an interplanetary war between an authoritarian empire and rebel forces.1

Luke's journey is a classic hero's quest, beginning with his discovery of the Force, an all-pervasive spiritual essence that balances good and evil. He is mentored by Obi-Wan Kenobi, a wise Jedi, and later by Jedi Master Yoda. A significant plot twist reveals that the menacing villain Darth Vader is Luke's father. Ultimately, Luke helps bring his father back to the light side of the Force and plays a crucial role in the Rebel Alliance's victory over the Galactic Empire.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Darth Vader
…of the young rebel hero Luke Skywalker, and at the climax of the next film, Star Wars: Episode VI—Return of the Jedi (1983), Vader turns against the Empire to save his son’s life, sacrificing his own in the process.
Read More
…of the young rebel hero Luke Skywalker, and at the climax of the next film, Star Wars: Episode VI—Return of the Jedi (1983), Vader turns against the Empire to save his son’s life, sacrificing his own in the process.
Read More