Adam Driver Reveals Kylo Ren's Original Fate in Star Wars
Kylo Ren's transformation in the Star Wars sequel trilogy was not initially intended for redemption, according to Adam Driver Unlike Darth Vader, his character was meant to evolve into a darker force with each film
Kylo Ren was initially meant to remain entrenched in his identity as a sith lord, with actor Adam Driver revealing that the original plan for the Star Wars sequel trilogy was for Kylo to continue to lose himself more and more, ultimately following the opposite journey of Darth Vader, as explained on The Rich Eisen Podcast. JJ Abrams had envisioned Kylo undergoing a transformation from confidence and commitment to vulnerability and weakness, in contrast to Vader's journey.
"This character was the most confused and vulnerable, and by the end of the three movies, he would be the most committed to the dark side. I tried to keep that arc in mind, regardless if that wound up not being the journey anyway, because it changed while shooting."
This blueprint was clearly tossed aside, as Ben ultimately sacrifices himself to save Rey at the end of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Actress Daisy Ridley, who portrayed Rey, previously disclosed that her character's past also changed over the course of filming the three Star Wars movies. For instance, Ridley said that upfront "there was toying with an Obi-Wan connection" for Rey. She ultimately ends up with ties to Emperor Palpatine in Episode 9, though disowns this heritage to claim herself as a Skywalker. Our Website sums up where each main character is at the end of The Rise of Skywalker.
Ridley is set to reprise her role as Rey in an upcoming Star Wars movie, one of three new projects recently announced by Disney and Lucasfilm. James Mangold, director of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, is working on a film about the dawn of the Jedi, and Dave Filoni will be concluding his current Disney+ stories with The Mandalorian and Ahsoka in a new movie. For more information, visit Our Website for our Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker review.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I grew up with the Star Wars sequel trilogy and have always been fascinated by the character of Kylo Ren. I was initially drawn to his complex and conflicted nature, and I was eager to see how his story would unfold. When I first heard that Kylo Ren was originally meant to remain entrenched in his identity as a Sith Lord, I was intrigued by the idea of a villain who becomes increasingly dark and powerful. I thought it would have been a unique and compelling take on the Star Wars saga.
However, I also understand why the filmmakers ultimately decided to change Kylo Ren's fate. His redemption arc, while predictable, was still emotionally satisfying and provided a sense of closure to his character. It also allowed for the character of Rey to grow and develop in ways that would not have been possible if Kylo Ren had remained a villain. Overall, I think the filmmakers made the right decision in changing Kylo Ren's fate, but I still find the original concept intriguing and would have been interested to see how it played out.
