Frank Oz Offers Cryptic Tease About Yoda's Return In Star Wars: The Last Jedi

03/13/2017 12:03 pm EDT

While talking with Variety about the vast and lasting legacy of his mentor Jim Henson, director and puppeteer Frank Oz spoke a little bit about one of his most famous characters, the Jedi Master known as Yoda.

Oz was asked point blank if the prolific filmmaker would reprise his role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi—currently the 3rd Most Anticipated Film as ranked by ComicBook.com readers—Oz didn't say yes. But he didn't say no, either.

In fact his answer is sure to get speculation rolling.

"I feel like I'm a prisoner at war here, and I can only give you my name, rank and serial number," Oz said. "To be true to the people who asked me, and they are kind of my family, I have to say I've been asked not to talk about it."

Asked not to talk about it? That's a strange response. If Oz is involved in the production of Rian Johnson's the Last Jedi in some capacity, then it's understandable that he would answer in such a way.

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But if he's just deflecting for the sake of keeping Lucasfilm's secrets, that's another thing entirely.

Oz followed up with a slightly more hopeful statement.

"I love Yoda," he said. "I would be happy to talk to you about it at the time they let me."

Interesting, indeed. It's not outside the realm of plausibility. Powerful Jedi who have fallen and become one with the Force have been known to appear to other still-breathing Jedi as Force Ghosts, manifesting as their appearance in life even after death.

Could we see a council of Ghost Jedi in the Temples on Ahch-To in the upcoming Star Wars Saga entry? It would help explain how Luke Skywalker became an all powerful Jedi that he's alluded to be, especially after just a few training sessions with Yoda, getting his hand chopped off, and building a new lightsaber.

Would an appearance by Yoda get you excited for Star Wars: The Last Jedi? Let us know with your rank in the Movie Database below!

Star Wars: The Last Jedi, from writer/director Rian Johnson, is in post-production now for a December 15, 2017 release. The film follows-up and continues the story of the next generation of the saga as Rey, Poe, Finn, and Kylo Ren find their place in the galaxy and follow the legacy of Luke Skywalker, Leia, and Han Solo. Daisy Ridley returns to star as Rey, with other returning stars John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, Peter Mayhew, Andy Serkis, Anthony Daniels, Lupita Nyong'o Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher as General Leia Organa. Benicio Del Toro and Laura Dern join the cast in as-yet-unrevealed roles.

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[h/t] Dark Horizons

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