frank oz yoda

As luck would have it, the legendary Frank Oz is currently promoting a documentary he is directing called ‘Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets Behind the Show the Whole World Watched’ and made an appearance at SXSW to talk up the project.  But of course ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ is looming… well, not til December but this is ‘Star Wars’… so of course folks are already scrambling for any bits of news they can get about it. So while promoting the Muppets doc, Oz was asked about the possibility of a Yoda appearance in the new ‘Star Wars’ movie.  Oz didn’t come right out and say yes or no, but his avoidance may have said even more.
When questioned, Oz replied:

When questioned, Oz replied:

Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com

“I feel like I’m a prisoner at war here, and I can only give you my name, rank and serial number. 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. I love Yoda. I would be happy to talk to you about it at the time they let me.”

Not only did Oz provide the puppetry and voice for Yoda in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’, he continued to provide the voice for the CGI Yoda in the prequels and in the various animated spin-offs.  In brighter projects, he is also the man behind some of the most famous and popular Muppets including Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Cookie Monster, Bert and Grover, just to name a few.

Oz is also an accomplished director, having helmed such classics as ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and ‘The Dark Crystal’.

Oz’s voice appeared in ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ during Rey’s Force “hallucination” after she touches Luke’s lightsaber for the first time.  At one point, there were plans for more Yoda in ‘The Force Awakens’ but those plans were scrapped, most likely due to the fact that the movie was already packed to the gills.

We already know that ‘The Last Jedi’ opens on the island on Ahch-To, the location of the first Jedi Temple, where Luke has settled in after the betrayal of Ben Solo/Kylo Ren.  Rey tracks him down and presents him with his old lightsaber and then…?  But since we know Rey is Force sensitive, it seems it’s just a matter of time before she embraces this destiny under Luke’s guidance.  But considering that Luke-as-a-mentor didn’t work out so well last time, perhaps he will consult with his Force ghost mentor(s) to avoid the mistakes of the past.

What do you think?  Do you want to see Yoda and maybe even Obi-Wan in ‘The Last Jedi’?

Directed by Rian Johnson, ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Billie Lourd, Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, Benicio Del Toro, Andy Serkis, Laura Dern, Lupita Nyong’o, Warwick Davis, Gareth Edwards, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels and Jimmy Vee opens on December 15, 2017.

Source: Variety