Let it be known that Supreme Leader Snoke is “way darker” and much more sinister than the great Emperor Palpatine.
In anticipation of Star Wars: The Last Jedi hitting theaters – December 15th, for those counting down the days – Empire Magazine caught up with Andy Serkis to discuss all things Star Wars and, more specifically, his on-screen antagonist.
First introduced via a floor-to-ceiling hologram in The Force Awakens, Rian Johnson’s imminent sequel will herald the moment when Snoke finally steps out of the shadows to orchestrate the First Order. Though given his twisted, scarred anatomy, some will wish he hadn’t.
Snoke is bloody dark; way darker than Palpatine. He’s riddled with this osteoporosis so his body’s twisted, like a corkscrew. He’s incredibly damaged, so there’s a bizarre vulnerability about him. Beneath that vulnerability, though, is this intense hatred. He’s definitely not a Sith, but he’s certainly at the darker end of the Force. Without giving too much away, that begins to unfold a little in this one.
It’s that mooted “vulnerability” that has us so intrigued by the First Order’s Supreme Leader. From what we understand, Snoke harbors a deep-seated hatred of the Resistance, who may well be responsible for his unsightly war wounds.
Either way, it’s that burning hatred that fuels Andy Serkis’ big bad, who was seemingly courting (testing?) Rey in The Last Jedi‘s most recent trailer. If true, it tees up a fascinating power dynamic between Rey, Snoke and Kylo Ren, who still struggles to impress his almighty master despite his best efforts to embrace the dark side of the Force. Ben Solo is no more, but can we expect Kylo to gain a shot at redemption?
Those questions will likely continue to simmer right up until December 15th, and only then will we have a better understanding of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. True to his initial promise, Rian Johnson has only included a brief outline of Snoke’s backstory in the film, so don’t expect to uncover all the answers in two weeks’ time.
