Kylo Ren is understandably a little miffed right now. Not only is he recovering from killing his dad, but he got beaten in a lightsaber duel by a complete beginner and the pride and joy of the First Order, Starkiller Base, was blown to smithereens. But, that doesn’t quite explain why Adam Driver sounds like he’s being a bit of a grouchy so and so on the set of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Hamill explained that Driver is “very moody and intense,” adding:
“I remember saying to Adam, ‘I don’t know how you work, or your technique. But, at some point, you were my nephew. I probably bounced you on my knee. I probably babysat for you. There’s that side, and now we’re both estranged from the Skywalker family. All I’m suggesting is, if you’d like, maybe we could go to lunch, we could get together and hang out.’”
Unfortunately, he was turned down. Hamil was gracious, but I’ve got be honest, I just don’t trust anyone who’d reject dinner with Mark Hamill. You could probably get him to do the Joker voice when he ordered – it’d be hilarious!
Co-stars John Boyega (Finn) and Daisy Ridley (Rey) don’t sound too impressed with the Girls star either, coming up with strategies to try and put a smile on Driver’s face. Boyega’s best attempt? “I give Adam hugs randomly, just for no reason [but] he just stands there. He waits for me to be done,” said the actor.
Driver tries to explain his behaviour thusly:
“The things about that character that I find painful, that I really relate to, I kind of prefer to keep to myself.”
I can’t help but be reminded of Laurence Olivier’s famous advice to Dustin Hoffman on the set of Marathon Man. To get into his role, Hoffman had stayed awake for 72 hours to achieve ’emotional verisimilitude.’ On hearing this, Olivier said, “my dear boy, why don’t you just try acting?” He’s got a point.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi touches down in this galaxy on December 15th.
