One of the most enduring mysteries of the Star Wars sequel trilogy is the question of how Maz Kanata, the wise and enigmatic pirate queen, came into possession of Luke Skywalker’s first lightsaber. The weapon, originally crafted by Anakin Skywalker and lost by Luke during his confrontation with Darth Vader in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’, reappears in ‘The Force Awakens’ in the unlikely hands of Maz. So, how did Maz Kanata get Luke’s lightsaber?
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| First Appearance | Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) |
| Owner of | Cantina on Takodana |
| Possession of | Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber |
| Possible ways of obtaining the lightsaber | Found in the bowels of Cloud City on the planet Bespin or passed down by someone who had a connection to the Jedi |
| Significance of the lightsaber | Has seen both the rise and fall of the Jedi, has a storied history, played a significant role in Maz’s life |
The Fall in Cloud City
Luke’s lightsaber is lost during the climactic duel with Darth Vader on Cloud City in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’. After the shocking revelation of his paternity, Luke engages in a fierce battle with Vader that ends with him losing his hand — and the lightsaber it was clutching — to Vader’s blade. The hand and lightsaber fall down a seemingly bottomless shaft, and it is assumed lost forever.
Presumed Fate
For many years, fans assumed that the lightsaber, along with Luke’s severed hand, simply fell into the gas giant planet Bespin, on which Cloud City is a floating metropolis. This seemed to be the most likely scenario given what was shown in the film.
The Mysterious Acquisition
In ‘The Force Awakens’, Luke’s original lightsaber is revealed to be in the possession of Maz Kanata. However, the film does not explain how Maz acquired the weapon. When asked about its origin, she simply replies that it is a “good question for another time,” which only intensifies the mystery.
The Journey Remains Unknown
While Maz has Luke’s lightsaber, the story of how it got from Cloud City to her castle on Takodana remains untold. The Star Wars films have not yet revealed this information, and as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, no canonical Star Wars media has definitively answered this question. However, some theories suggest that someone might have found the lightsaber on Cloud City and sold it, eventually leading it to Maz.
The Short Answer
The exact journey of Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber from Cloud City to Maz Kanata’s possession remains one of the most intriguing unanswered questions in the Star Wars saga. It adds to the mystique of Maz Kanata, whose long life and network of contacts suggest a wealth of untold stories and secret knowledge. The mystery surrounding the lightsaber also reflects the ongoing theme in Star Wars of destiny and objects finding their way to the right people, such as the way the lightsaber calls to Rey. Perhaps future Star Wars stories will finally reveal how Maz came to own this important piece of Star Wars history.
