Mark Hamill has ribbed Star Wars fans with a fake casting announcement on social media.
The franchise’s veteran actor – who plays Luke Skywalker in the films – posted on his Instagram an illustration of an empty robe.
The post reads: “BREAKING NEWS: #StarWars #EpisodeIX writer/director JJ Abrams casts Empty Robe in latest installment of much anticipated space-saga.”
It’s not clear whether Hamill will return for the next installment, Episode IX, after his character supposedly died in the previous installment, The Last Jedi.
As Digital Spy reports he recently shaved his beard, which has left fans puzzled about how he will appear as Force Ghost Luke.
Hamill’s Instagram post could merely serve to wind fans up; he may very well be returning to the sci-fi juggernaut.
In April, Hamill said that he “doesn’t care” about starring in the films following Carrie Fisher’s death.
“It really has tarnished my ability to enjoy it to its fullest,” he told ABC News.
He continued, “I don’t care any more on that level, because Han Solo is gone, Luke is gone and you just can’t get the band back together the way you wanted it to be, and it shouldn’t be that way.”
Star Wars: Episode IX is released in the UK on December 19 2018 and in the US on December 20 2019.