Some fans weren’t totally convinced when Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren was first introduced as the newest “Star Wars” villain on the block in “The Force Awakens.” This man with the ideal hairstyle? A bad guy?
Even in an all-black outfit, Adam Driver didn’t have the stereotypical “Star Wars” bad guy appearance. Even though Kylo Ren made an effort to imitate Darth Vader’s presence with a trademark helmet and vocal distortion, he didn’t have a menacing facial tattoo like Darth Maul, Emperor Palpatine’s face hadn’t been altered by his power, and he wasn’t half-machine like Darth Vader. Instead, Kylo Ren possessed captivating eyes and a magnificent mane of hair that gave him the appearance of a prince with serious flaws. However, Kylo Ren’s deeds demonstrated the contrary, and it was the character’s narrative that persuaded Driver to accept the job—despite the fact that he was, frankly, worried about being a part of a galaxy so remote.
Taking On The Role Of Kylo Ren Wasn’t Easy For Adam Driver
In three “Star Wars” films, Adam Driver played the menacing and brooding antagonist, finest capturing the angst and wrath of Kylo Ren. Prior to that, though, Adam Driver wasn’t a great fan of large-budget film series, especially since they didn’t always take good care of their characters and plots. Thankfully, J.J. Abrams, the film’s writer and director, was able to persuade the actor to join the project.
Adam Driver admitted to Rolling Stone in 2015 that saying “yes” to a part in the space opera series was “not an easy yes.” The actor was holding back because he was afraid of messing up the part because he worried that his character and the plot wouldn’t be at the centre of the movie. Driver was able to overcome his reservations and decide to accept the character of Kylo Ren when director J.J. Abrams first mentioned it to him. Driver’s memory:
“It doesn’t necessarily follow that individuals should recreate something or return a world just because they can. I’ve watched a lot of higher-budget films that forgo character and plot in favour of spectacle, and I had no idea what the script or how it would look. But J.J.’s opening remarks focused on plot and character. Everything was really amazing. Even then, you are still unsure. Can I meet that standard? I enjoy watching movies. By any means, you don’t want to mess it up. It seems like perhaps doing it was a good idea because I was afraid of it.”
Driver later played Kylo Ren in “The Rise of Skywalker” and “The Last Jedi” (2019). Fans were enthralled by Driver’s complex portrayal of the villain, and despite their divided reactions to each of the sequels, Driver’s performance was warmly appreciated. Additionally, he suffered the same type of battle injury as his fellow Sith due to a scar left on his face and torso from a lightsaber slice administered by the defection Stormtrooper Finn (John Boyega).
Kylo Ren was never an easy-to-like character. He was responsible for some of Luke Skywalker’s death and did his fair share of crimes, including the murder of his own father, the smuggler-turned-hero Han Solo. Additionally, Kylo Ren forced his way into the thoughts of his victims against their will and commanded the murder of numerous innocent villagers. He became one of the most complicated and satisfying characters in the new “Star Wars” trilogy due to his ongoing conflict between his desire to lead the dark side and his legacy that bound him to the light.