Force projection

Master Qui-Gon, more to say, have you?

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"Always save your best trick for last."

―Luke Skywalker^[src]

Force projection, also known as Similfuturus, was a Fallanassi Force technique recorded in the sacred Jedi texts and utilized by Jedi Master Luke Skywalker during the Battle of Crait. The technique allowed a Jedi to create an illusory doppelgänger of themselves that could be transmitted through the Force across vast distances.

Description[edit | edit source]

"What, are you suggesting that you're fighting a bunch of Jedi, able to project themselves from place to place like Luke Skywalker?"

―Branwayne Spiftz, to Aderat^[src]

Force projection^[3] required extreme concentration and focus. The Jedi poured their Living Force presence into the Cosmic Force, allowing them to create illusory copies of themselves incredible distances away.^[source?]

Using this power was extremely taxing; Kylo Ren noted that Rey, whose power in the Force rivaled his own immense powers as a Skywalker, would die just by trying. Although Luke Skywalker maintained a projection for several minutes, giving all of himself to the Force to allow him to physically interact with his surroundings, the strain cost him his life.^[1]

The doppelgänger, being only a projection, allowed one to appear to perform seemingly impossible feats, such as being unscathed after taking a barrage of blaster bolts, or disappearing from one position and reappearing in another. It also allowed one to project something other than one's true physical appearance, such as making oneself appear younger, or appearing to have an object not currently in one's possession. Despite being otherwise immaterial, the user was at least capable of physical contact with others.^[2]

History[edit | edit source]

"See you around, kid."

―Luke's projection, just before vanishing before Kylo Ren's eyes^[src]

In 34 ABY, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker projected his appearance from Ahch-To to Crait, where he confronted his nephew, Kylo Ren, during the Battle of Crait. The feat was so strenuous that it led to Skywalker's death, after which he became one with the Force. He carried a copy of Han Solo's dice with him that he left with General Leia Organa, who left them at the old Rebel base on the planet. Ren discovered the dice, which disappeared shortly after Skywalker's death.^[2]

Skywalker's ability to project himself became known in the wider galaxy after his death, and though some believed in the power, others such as First Order Commander Branwayne Spiftz saw it as nothing more than a myth, and referred to the ability mockingly while chastising Lieutenant Aderat over the "disappearing" Minfar resistance fighters.^[4]

Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]

"I've heard something like this described as a Force power, like actually projecting a vision of yourself elsewhere. But we've actually never seen it in the movies. It's something a little different. This could be a way that he could win this sequence."

―Rian Johnson^[src]

Force projection first appeared in Star Wars canon in the 2017 film Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi, the second installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy.^[2] Dopplegänger was originally introduced in the Star Wars Legends continuity in Dark Empire 5: Emperor Reborn, which was authored by Tom Veitch, penciled by Cam Kennedy,^[5] and released on August 18, 1992.^[6]

In a special feature called Balance of the Force, Rian Johnson explained that, although he had imagined a scenario where Luke would be present on Crait and would accomplish incredible feats with the Force, he didn't want the Force to be reduced to a mere superpower. Instead, he wanted to find a way for Luke to beat Kylo Ren without causing him physical harm. Using the same approach he had employed for Rey and Ren with the Force-bond, he used the Force projection as a way to allow Luke a final, intimate confrontation with Ren.^[2]