This year we will see the continuation of the new STAR WARS trilogy, advancing the story of Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac) and the villain with perfectly-coiffed hair, Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Of the whole group there is the most mystery surrounding the latter, with an entire background and emotional depth ripe for exploring, the major question being, “Does it get hot under that helmet with all that hair?”
During an interview with Larry King, Driver was asked regarding EPISODE VIII, “What’s one aspect about Kylo Ren you’re excited for fans to see in the next film?” Nothing about the hair bit, though:
“I think, maybe this is such a general answer but you know, humanity. Even though it’s very much a blockbuster movie, there was no taking that for granted and that we were forced to be general. 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 to make both of them make sense. 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 JJ 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.”
Driver does a great job of not giving too many blunt details away about his character (at the risk of being poisoned by Disney), but still offering some new insight into where the character may go. We saw a bit of conflict in Ren during that big scene in FORCE AWAKENS, hinting there may be more to Ren that meets the eye, and chances are we will get to see that explored in VIII.
Though I’m anxious to learn more about the heroes of these new stories (particularly Rey), Ren has me the most curious about where he’ll end up. I don’t think he’ll go the route of the “thwarted bad guy”, with the creative team opting to do something more unique with him. Driver made a good point about having to be quite general in FORCE AWAKENS for the sake of establishment, and I have full faith EPISODE VIII will explore everything on a much more complex level. Honestly though, it has to be BOILING in there.
EPISODE VIII is set for December 15.