The surprise appearance of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in *The Mandalorian* stands out as one of the most memorable moments in Star Wars history. During Star Wars Celebration, Rosario Dawson shared her astonishment at learning about Hamill's cameo on the set of *The Book of Boba Fett*, revealing she was completely unaware until he actually appeared.
To keep the secrecy around Luke's cameo intact, showrunners Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau cleverly used Jedi Master Plo Koon as a decoy in the scripts. This tactic was part of a broader strategy to prevent leaks, and Dawson was just as surprised as any fan would be upon reading about Plo Koon's supposed return, especially since his death was a poignant moment in *Revenge of the Sith*.
"I was like... I don't know... but people disappear and then they come back, so maybe it's possible?" Dawson recalled thinking after reading the script. The surprise escalated when Mark Hamill walked onto the set, humorously commenting on the absurdity of Plo Koon's involvement: "Plo Koon? That wouldn't even make sense!" Dawson responded with, "I know it didn't make sense, but I still had to think it made sense because I got the script and everything!"
Filoni and Favreau expressed their regret for not informing Dawson sooner, with Filoni saying, "That was bad on us! I think we assumed you'd gotten told the right information," while Favreau added, "We were in it so much." They also highlighted the intense secrecy surrounding two major reveals in the show: Grogu's appearance at the end of the first episode and Luke Skywalker's at the end of Season 2. Despite leaks plaguing other aspects of the production, these secrets were successfully kept under wraps.
Dawson took the oversight in stride, humorously noting, "I love it, they know I can't be trusted," showcasing the light-hearted camaraderie among the cast and crew.
Concept art of Plo Koon made to throw off leaks. Image Credit: Disney & Lucasfilm
