Star Wars: Episode VIII alum Adam Driver has hinted that Rian Johnson’s upcoming sequel will delve deeper into Kylo Ren’s humanity – or lack thereof.
Appearing on Larry King Now (via CBM), Driver, who impressed fans and critics alike as the fiery, capricious commander in The Force Awakens, hinted at the next stage of Kylo Ren’s arc. Dancing around specifics, the actor touched base on how Episode VIII plans to balance its blockbuster sensibilities with character drama, before assuring fans that many of the plot points left lingering at the end of J.J. Abrams’ tentpole will be answered come December.
First up, here’s what Adam Driver had to share about Kylo Ren’s damaged psyche:
“I think maybe – this is such a general answer – but you know, humanity. Even though it’s very much a blockbuster movie, and I’m aware of that, there was no taking that for granted and that we were forced to be general [in The Force Awakens]. There was a lot of plot points that we knew were operating in the first one, that we get to explain more in the second one, that kind of make both of them make sense.”
Still under the influence of Andy Serkis’ Supreme Leader Snoke, one would assume Star Wars: Episode VIII will see a more powerful Kylo Ren take center stage, as the Darth Vader super-fan begins to complete his transition into a full-blown Sith Lord. When asked about the underlying social commentary coursing through the veins of the Star Wars series, Driver explained how both J.J. Abrams and now Rian Johnson looked to real-life terrorism when drawing the battle lines between the First Order and the Rebel Alliance.
“But they do kind of feel socially active to me. And George Lucas originally — a lot of Star Wars was in response to Vietnam and a lot of what I remember talking about with J.J. and Rian was this idea of terrorism, and two sides being morally justified to behave however they wanted to to get whatever they thought was absolutely correct.”
As things stand – and with Rogue One now in the ether – Star Wars: Episode VIII will be next to tumble off Disney’s production line on December 15, 2017. Despite the tragic passing of Carrie Fisher late last year, just recently Disney brass called a meeting to discuss Leia’s future in the Star Wars universe, which may well involve CGI wizardry in the vein of Rogue One.