With just months until the theatrical release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, anticipation for the first film in the franchise in a decade — and the first one set after the original trilogy — is higher than ever before. As the film's final trailer hit, advance ticket sales crashed leading purchasing platforms like Fandango and AMC Theatres, breaking records in the process. However, one fan-favorite character has been noticeably missing from the marketing campaign: Luke Skywalker, the farmboy-turned-Jedi who served as the hero and audience proxy throughout the first three films.Director J.J. Abrams has stated that actor Mark Hamill — who has long been confirmed to be part of the film's cast — was purposefully left out of the film's pre-release marketing, admitting that the plot of The Force Awakens ultimately centers on the question of who Anakin and Padmé's son has become since the end of Return of the Jedi. So, while fans may be frustrated at the absence of their favorite hero, there are several legitimate reasons why returning stars Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher are featured on the poster and in the film's trailers, with little sign of Hamill to be found.The first and most obvious explanation is simply to stir up speculation and discussion among the sizable Star Wars fan community. All of the conversations and theories about the film only serves to underscore the hype surrounding its release, leading to more awareness and the chance of even greater box office returns. With the widespread appeal of Star Wars, the series' place in cinema history and now all the rampant guesswork and endless rumors surrounding it, it would be a miracle if the The Force Awakens doesn't emerge as the highest-grossing film of all-time soon after it arrives in theaters. The mystery surrounding Luke is a key part of that.