Since the very first rumors placed him as a potential star of STAR WARS: EPISODE VII, the rumors have had him portraying a villain. The actor has appeared in duplicitous roles on HBO’s GIRLS and in the Coen Bros. film INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, but never has he played a role as dark as a Sith Lord. Driver never seemed to be a classic fit for what we expect in the STAR WARS universe which is part of why I was so intrigued by the choice.
But, with major script changes between Michael Arndt‘s original treatment and the finished screenplay from J.J. Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan, Driver’s role may not be as clearly villainous. Jedi News cites a source who claims to know the nature of Driver’s role.
He will be playing the son of Han and Leia, and it seems he will be seduced to the Dark Side, and a main plot point for the movie will be their attempt to rescue him.
Seeing as Luke may not have any children, being a Jedi and all, Han and Leia’s child would likely have gained some of the connection to the Force his mother and uncle would have had. This would definitely deviate from the Expanded Universe offspring, the Solo twins, but could make for an interesting path for the characters. Plus, it sounds like a story that would fit right in with the other six films in the series.
There is, of course, no substantiation for this news, so take it with a grain of salt. I would definitely like to see this turn out to be true. STAR WARS: EPISODE VII will hit theaters on December 18. 2015.