“Show me again, the power of the darkness…and I’ll let nothing stand in our way. I will finish what you started.” Kylo Ren’s manic obsession with all things Darth Vader proved to be one of the more intriguing subplots of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It added a layer of complexity to Adam Driver’s unruly and indeed unhinged menace that was sorely missing from the prequels, and ensured Ren’s scenes crackled with a scenery-chewing intensity.
That’ll no doubt continue with the release of Star Wars: Episode VIII late next year, but according to a report unearthed by Making Star Wars (via /Film), Kylo Ren could undergo a minor costume change in time for Rian Johnson’s sequel. Yes, if the outlet is to be believed, Luke Skywalker isn’t the only one who will be sporting new duds come 2017, though Ren’s purported new addition taps into the character’s twisted fixation on Vader.
Per Making Star Wars:
According to sources, Kylo Ren is wearing a Darth Vader cape in Star Wars: Episode VIII. The cape is said to be like the one Darth Vader wears in The Empire Strikes Back/Return of the Jedi. However, the cape does not have the same chain clasp. It is not entirely clear if this cape is one Kylo made to resemble that of his grandfather’s or if he actually procured one of Darth Vader’s capes that probably fell into the hands of collectors in the Star Wars galaxy.
The Force Awakens showed that Kylo Ren has persevered Vader’s disfigured helmet, so it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine that the capricious baddie has access to that jet-black cape, too. Treat this rumor as just that for the meantime, though.
All will hopefully be revealed when Star Wars: Episode VIII zooms into theaters on December 15, 2017.