Kylo Ren (born Ben Solo) is a fictional character in the ''
Star Wars
''Star Wars'' is an American epic film, epic space opera media franchise created by George Lucas, which began with the Star Wars (film), eponymous 1977 film and Cultural impact of Star Wars, quickly became a worldwide popular culture, pop cu ...
'' franchise. He was introduced in ''
The Force Awakens
''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens'') is a 2015 American epic film, epic space opera film co-produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams. The sequel to ''Return of the Jedi ...
'' (2015), the first film of the
sequel trilogy as the main antagonist. He subsequently appeared in ''
The Last Jedi'' (2017) and ''
The Rise of Skywalker'' (2019). He also appears in the animated series ''
Star Wars Resistance
''Star Wars Resistance'' is an American 3D animated comic science fiction television series produced by Lucasfilm Animation. It follows Kazuda Xiono, a New Republic pilot who is recruited by the Resistance to spy on the growing threat of ...
'' (2018–2020), and the television specials ''
The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special'' (2020) and ''
Lego Star Wars: Terrifying Tales'' (2021). Ren is portrayed by
Adam Driver
Adam Douglas Driver (born November 19, 1983) is an American actor, recognized for his collaborations with auteur filmmakers. Driver made his film debut in ''J. Edgar'' (2011) and played supporting roles in ''Lincoln (film), Lincoln'' (2012), '' ...
in all three sequel trilogy films.
At birth, Ren is given the name Ben Solo by his parents
Han Solo
Han Solo () is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He was introduced in the 1977 film ''Star Wars (film), Star Wars'', and later appeared in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980), ''Return of the Jedi'' (1983), ''Star Wars: The F ...
and
Leia Organa. He is trained as a
Jedi
Jedi (), Jedi Knights, or collectively the Jedi Order are fictional characters, and often protagonists, featured in many works within the '' Star Wars'' franchise. Working symbiotically alongside the Galactic Republic, the Jedi Order is depic ...
by his uncle
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He was introduced in the original film trilogy as the main protagonist and also appears in the sequel trilogy. Raised as a poor moisture farmer on the desert planet Tat ...
, but is seduced to the
dark side of the Force by
Snoke, the Supreme Leader of the
First Order
In mathematics and other formal sciences, first-order or first order most often means either:
* "linear" (a polynomial of degree at most one), as in first-order approximation and other calculus uses, where it is contrasted with "polynomials of high ...
. He assumes the name Kylo Ren and aspires to be as powerful as his grandfather, the
Sith
The Sith are the main antagonists in the fictional universe of the ''Star Wars'' franchise. They are the antithesis and ancient enemies of the Jedi. The Sith Order is depicted as an ancient cult of warriors who draw strength from the dark sid ...
Lord
Darth Vader
Darth Vader () is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He was first introduced in the original film trilogy as the primary antagonist and one of the leaders of the Galactic Empire. He has become one of the most iconic villain ...
. Throughout the sequel trilogy, Ren is an enforcer of the First Order, the leader of the Knights of Ren, and an adversary of
Rey. He kills both his father and Snoke, then seizes the position of Supreme Leader. Ren eventually discovers that he shares a connection with Rey called a "Force
dyad".
He rejects the dark side and helps her defeat the resurrected
Emperor Palpatine, then uses the last of his life force to revive her when she collapses.
In addition to appearing in the films and television series, Kylo Ren has also appeared in related media and merchandising. Driver's performance has received acclaim from critics and fans. For his performance in ''The Force Awakens'', Driver won the
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
The following is a list of Saturn Award winners and nominees for Best Supporting Actor (in a film). Burgess Meredith, Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis are the only actors that have won the award twice, while only Javier Bardem, Heath Ledger, and ...
, making him the first ''Star Wars'' actor since
Alec Guinness
Sir Alec Guinness (born Alec Guinness de Cuffe; 2 April 1914 – 5 August 2000) was an English actor. In the BFI, British Film Institute listing of 1999 of BFI Top 100 British films, the 100 most important British films of the 20th century ...
to win the award. Driver received a second nomination in the same category for his performance in ''The Rise of Skywalker''.
Concept and creation
As late as March 2014, the main antagonist of ''
Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' was only known to the production team as "Jedi Killer" and had gone through numerous unapproved design attempts (one of which was reused for
Captain Phasma). That same month,
Glyn Dillon's design for the character's costume was finally approved. Director
J. J. Abrams wanted the design of the character's mask to be memorable to a child
and stated that "the design was meant to be a nod to the
Vader mask."
According to concept designer
Doug Chiang
Doug Chiang (; born 16 February 1962) is an American film designer and artist. He is vice president and executive creative director of Lucasfilm and previous Chief Creative Officer (CCO) at Lucasfilm.
Early life and education
Chiang was born i ...
, the character "takes on
hepersona of
aderto haunt Luke". According to ''The Force Awakens'' costume designer
Michael Kaplan:
Adam Driver
Adam Douglas Driver (born November 19, 1983) is an American actor, recognized for his collaborations with auteur filmmakers. Driver made his film debut in ''J. Edgar'' (2011) and played supporting roles in ''Lincoln (film), Lincoln'' (2012), '' ...
's casting in the film in an unnamed role was first announced on April 29, 2014. Kylo Ren was first seen from behind, but still not named, in the 88-second ''The Force Awakens'' teaser trailer released by
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC is an American film and television production company founded by filmmaker George Lucas in December 10, 1971 in San Rafael, California, and later moved to San Francisco in 2005. It is best known for creating and producing th ...
on November 28, 2014, wielding a jagged red
lightsaber
A lightsaber is a fictional energy sword featured throughout ''Star Wars''. A typical lightsaber is shown as a luminous laser sword about in length emitted from a metal hilt around in length. First introduced in the original ''Star Wars'' ...
with a crossguard. The name Kylo Ren, as well as the character's design, was revealed by ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' in a Lucasfilm-designed
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc. is an American company that manufactures trading cards and other collectibles. Formerly based in New York City, Topps is best known as a leading producer of Baseball card, baseball and other sports and Non-sports tradi ...
-style trading card
mock-up
In manufacturing and design, a mockup, or mock-up, is a scale or full-size model of a design or device, used for teaching, demonstration, design evaluation, promotion, and other purposes. A mockup may be a ''prototype'' if it provides at le ...
on December 11, 2014; a character named "Kybo Ren" was previously featured in the 1985 animated series ''
Star Wars: Droids''. A May 2015 ''
Vanity Fair'' photo shoot by
Annie Leibovitz
Anna-Lou Leibovitz ( ; born October 2, 1949) is an American Portrait photography, portrait photographer best known for her portraits, particularly of celebrities, which often feature subjects in intimate settings and poses. Leibovitz's Polaroid ...
confirmed that Driver would be portraying Kylo.
According to other cast members, Driver is a
method actor
''Method Actor'' is an eponymous album of the band Method Actor released in 1988 featuring American singer Eva Cassidy. It was unofficially re-released on CD in 2002.
Track listing
# "Getting Out" (David Christopher) – 4:19
# "Look in to My ...
, meaning that he sometimes stayed in character on set as Ren and left his mask on between scenes.
Driver explained that his goal was "to forget you're in ''Star Wars'' and treat it like any other job that's filled with moments and problems", because from the perspective of the characters living within the film's universe, "Darth Vader is real."
Character
Abrams told ''
Empire
An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...
'' in August 2015, "Kylo Ren is not a
Sith
The Sith are the main antagonists in the fictional universe of the ''Star Wars'' franchise. They are the antithesis and ancient enemies of the Jedi. The Sith Order is depicted as an ancient cult of warriors who draw strength from the dark sid ...
. He works under Supreme Leader Snoke, who is a powerful figure on the dark side of
the Force
The Force is a Metaphysics, metaphysical, mysterious, and Energy (esotericism), ubiquitous power in the ''Star Wars'' Universe of Star Wars, fictional universe. Characters refer to the Force as an energy that interconnects all things in the univer ...
." Abrams had previously stated that the character "came to the name Kylo Ren when he joined a group called the Knights of Ren."
Robbie Collin
Robbie Collin is a British film critic.
Collin studied aesthetics and the philosophy of film at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. He edited the university's student newspaper, '' The Saint''.
Collin has been the chief film critic at ''The ...
of ''
The Telegraph
''The Telegraph'', ''Daily Telegraph'', ''Sunday Telegraph'' and other variant names are often names for newspapers. Newspapers with these titles include:
Australia
* The Telegraph (Adelaide), ''The Telegraph'' (Adelaide), a newspaper in Adelaid ...
'' described Ren as "a hot-headed, radicalised dark side extremist, whose red lightsaber splutters and crackles as violently as his temper".
Abrams noted, "The lightsaber is something that he built himself, and is as dangerous and as fierce and as ragged as the character."
''The Telegraph'' also explains that Ren's wild and erratic temper and "angsty" instability make him dangerous. Melissa Leon of ''
The Daily Beast
''The Daily Beast'' is an American news website focused on politics, media, and pop culture. Founded in 2008, the website is owned by IAC Inc.
It has been characterized as a "high-end tabloid" by Noah Shachtman, the site's editor-in-chief ...
'' describes Ren's use of the Force as "formidable", citing his ability to stop a blaster shot mid-air, immobilize victims and probe their minds against their will.
Kasdan told ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American online magazine, digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, ...
'' in August 2015, "I've written four ''Star Wars'' movies now, and there's never been a character quite like the one that Adam
river
A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...
plays. I think you're going to see something that's brand new to the saga," noting that the character is "full of emotion".
Abrams explained, "I think that what makes Ren so unique is that he isn't as fully formed as when we meet a character such as Darth Vader...
ylo Renis not your prototypical mustache-twirling bad guy. He is a little bit more complex than that."
Driver said in December 2015 that, despite the visual similarities to Vader, Ren is "unlike any villain the franchise has seen".
He explained:
Driver claimed that he was privy to several details of Ren's backstory during the making of the films. According to Lev Grossman, who interviewed the actor in the lead-up to ''The Rise of Skywalker'', Driver reported that "both Han Solo and Leia were way too self-absorbed and into this idea of themselves as heroes to really be attentive parents in the way a young and tender Ren really needed." The backstory of how Ben Solo became Kylo Ren was elaborated upon in a
prequel
A prequel is a literary, dramatic or cinematic work whose story precedes that of a previous work, by focusing on events that occur before the original narrative. A prequel is a work that forms part of a backstory to the preceding work.
The term ...
graphic novel
A graphic novel is a self-contained, book-length form of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and Anthology, anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics sc ...
titled ''The Rise of Kylo Ren'', which was released by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
from December 2019 to March 2020.
Certain aspects of Ren's overall arc across the three films of the
sequel trilogy were also known to Driver from the start of production on the first film. He claimed that he "had one piece of information of where it was all going...and things were building towards that". He later clarified:
When asked by IGN in December 2017 if he believed Ren was capable of redemption, ''
The Last Jedi'' writer/director
Rian Johnson
Rian Craig Johnson (born December 17, 1973) is an American filmmaker. He made his directorial debut with the neo-noir mystery film ''Brick (film), Brick'' (2005), which received positive reviews and grossed nearly $4 million on a $450,000 budget ...
replied, "Yeah...are you kidding? Darth Vader was worse than Kylo ever was, I think, and Vader got redeemed." Citing the complexity of the character, Johnson articulated, "I don't see the point of trying to get behind his mask and learn more about him if all we're going to learn is 'Yeah, he's just an evil bad guy that needs to be killed.'" ''The Rise of Skywalker'' co-writer
Chris Terrio also supported this position through comparing Ren with Vader. According to Terrio, "Vader was complicit in genocide and cruelty and depravity. Yet there is this inherent optimism in ''Star Wars'' that the light in you is never truly gone. That you can still redeem yourself right up until the last minute – which, in Vader's case, was literally true...Leia never really gave up hope that Ren could be redeemed, and she knew that Rey was probably the way that it would happen." Abrams further elaborated on this point:
''
The Rise of Skywalker'' (2019) revealed that Kylo Ren and Rey are a "dyad" in the Force, which Terrio described as "sort of soulmate
in the Force" and "twins of fate, twins of destiny". Their relationship was also described as a romance by both Abrams
and Johnson,
with Abrams explaining that, during the production of ''The Force Awakens'', he perceived them having as much as a "brother-sister thing" as a "romantic thing" because of their spiritual connection in the Force,
while Johnson explains the intimacy developed between the two characters in ''The Last Jedi'' because of their interactions during the Force connections.
Johnson also explains about Ren's appeal for Rey to join him during ''The Last Jedi'', comparing it with the love confession in the film ''
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is a district of West London, England, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Notting Hill is known for being a wikt:cosmopolitan, cosmopolitan and multiculturalism, multicultural neighbourhood, hosting the annual Notting ...
'' (1999):
Appearances
''The Force Awakens''
Kylo Ren was introduced in the 2015 film ''
The Force Awakens
''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens'') is a 2015 American epic film, epic space opera film co-produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams. The sequel to ''Return of the Jedi ...
'' as a warlord of the First Order, a tyrannical regime that arose from the remains of the
Galactic Empire. After arriving on
Jakku
Jakku is a fictional desert planet in the ''Star Wars'' universe, first featured in the 2015 film '' The Force Awakens''. Remote, lawless, and inhospitable, it is the homeworld of sequel trilogy main character Rey, played by Daisy Ridley, an ...
to retrieve a map containing the coordinates where
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He was introduced in the original film trilogy as the main protagonist and also appears in the sequel trilogy. Raised as a poor moisture farmer on the desert planet Tat ...
can be found, Ren kills an elderly man named Lor San Tekka. He orders his
stormtroopers to slaughter the local civilians, then captures the
Resistance pilot
Poe Dameron. Ren learns that Poe has entrusted the map to
BB-8
BB-8 (or Beebee-Ate) is a Droid (Star Wars), droid character in the Star Wars, ''Star Wars'' franchise. He appeared in the three films of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, sequel trilogy, ''Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015), ''Star Wars: The Las ...
, an
astromech droid.
It is revealed that Ren is the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa. He was given the name Ben by his parents, and was trained as a Jedi by Luke, his uncle. He was brought to the dark side of the Force by Snoke, the Supreme Leader of the First Order. After Ren is alerted to the presence of BB-8 on
Takodana, he travels there and captures the scavenger Rey, who has seen the map. While interrogating her, he realizes she is strong with the Force. She resists his powers and experiences his emotions, realizing that he is afraid he will never be as powerful as his grandfather, Darth Vader.
Han arrives on
Starkiller Base and confronts his son. He implores him to abandon the dark side, warning him that Snoke will kill him once he has control of the galaxy. Ren at first seems receptive to his father's request, but then ignites his lightsaber and kills him. Enraged, Han's friend
Chewbacca fires at Ren, wounding him. Ren then pursues Rey and the rogue stormtrooper
Finn, who are fleeing the now-unstable base. Finn battles Ren with a lightsaber, but Ren overpowers and severely injures him. Rey then takes up the lightsaber and, using the Force, begins to overcome Ren. Before the duel is finished, they are separated by a seismic fissure created by the collapsing base. Rey and Chewbacca escape with the unconscious Finn as Snoke orders
General Hux to bring Ren to him to complete his training.
''The Last Jedi''
Ren returns in ''
The Last Jedi'' (2017). He begins having conversations with Rey, whom he connects with through the Force. Rey learns from Luke why Ben Solo turned to the dark side: Luke had seen a vision of the destruction he would cause, and was briefly tempted to kill him in his sleep; when Ben awoke and saw Luke with his lightsaber drawn, he turned on his uncle and destroyed the Jedi Temple. Rey believes there is still good in Ren, and resolves to bring him back.
Ren is reproached by Snoke for his failure to defeat Rey, and Ren subsequently tries to prove himself by leading an attack on a Resistance starship. He hesitates to destroy it when he senses that his mother is on board, but his wingmen blast apart the ship's bridge, which almost kills her. When Rey arrives to confront Ren, he captures her and brings her to Snoke, who tortures her before ordering Ren to kill her. Instead of complying, Ren kills Snoke, then slays his guards with Rey's assistance. Ren then asks Rey to join him in ruling the galaxy. She hesitates and then refuses, realizing that Ren will not abandon the dark side. The two engage in a Force struggle over Luke's lightsaber, which causes it to break in half; Ren is knocked unconscious.
After Rey escapes, Ren frames her for Snoke's assassination. He uses the Force to strangle Hux until he acknowledges him as the new Supreme Leader, then launches an attack on the Resistance base on
Crait. When Luke appears during the assault, Ren orders his men to fire on him. The weapons have no effect, and Ren decides to face Luke alone. Luke soon reveals that he is only present as a Force projection, which served as a distraction to allow the Resistance fighters to escape.
''The Rise of Skywalker''
In ''
The Rise of Skywalker'' (2019), Ren has been ruling the First Order for a year. At the start of the film, he is searching for a Sith wayfinder to lead him to the Sith planet
Exegol. When he arrives on Exegol, he encounters
Emperor Palpatine, who has been resurrected. Palpatine reveals that he has been manipulating Ren and the First Order; he created Snoke to lure Ren to the dark side. Palpatine unveils the Final Order, a massive fleet of Star Destroyers built by the
Sith Eternal. He tells Ren that if he kills Rey, he will be given the armada and will rule a new Sith Empire.
Ren continues corresponding with Rey through the Force to discern her location. Eventually, Ren informs Rey that the two of them are a
dyad in the Force with powerful potential when joined. He also reveals that she is Palpatine's granddaughter, and urges her to join him in overthrowing Palpatine. After Rey refuses, Ren follows her to
Kef Bir, the location of a second wayfinder. He destroys the wayfinder and engages her in a duel. During their battle, Leia reaches out to Ren through the Force, which distracts him long enough for Rey to impale him. Guilt-ridden, Rey uses the Force to heal Ren, confessing to him that she wanted to take Ben Solo's hand, but not Kylo Ren's. After Rey steals his ship and leaves, Ren converses with a memory of his father, who urges him to renounce the dark side. Following their brief conversation, Ren tosses away his lightsaber and becomes Ben Solo once again.
Ben rushes to help Rey defeat Palpatine on Exegol. She senses his presence and uses their Force connection to give him Luke's lightsaber, which Ben uses to slay the Knights of Ren. Palpatine senses Rey and Ben's dyad connection. He absorbs their life energy to restore his full power, before casting Ben into an abyss. Rey manages to kill Palpatine, but then collapses, seemingly dead. Ben returns and transfers his life essence into her, successfully reviving her but sacrificing his own life in the process. They share a kiss before Ben dies in Rey's arms. His body and the body of Leia simultaneously fade away into the Force.
''The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special''
In ''
The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special'' (2020), Rey travels through time, ending up followed by a ''Return of the Jedi''-era Vader, who takes a key from her that makes time travelling possible. He delivers it to a past version of Palpatine, who wants to know his own future. He and Vader travel forward in time and meet Supreme Leader Ren post-''The Last Jedi'', who eagerly introduces himself as Vader's grandson. He then informs Palpatine of his apparent death at Vader's hand. Unaware of his own subsequent resurrection, Palpatine decides to recruit Ren as his new apprentice. He brings him to the
second Death Star in the past, hoping he will kill Vader and Luke. Rey subsequently arrives with a young version of Luke. They battle Vader and Ren, who again invites Rey to rule the galaxy with him. After BB-8 steals the time key from Palpatine, a saddened Rey sends Ren back to his own time, where he destroys his room in anger.
Comics
''Age of Resistance'' (2019)
Kylo Ren appears in the
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...
miniseries ''Age of Resistance'', part of the ''Age of Star Wars'' maxi-series composed of one-shot issues focusing on various characters from each trilogy in the
Skywalker saga
The ''Star Wars'' franchise involves multiple live-action and animated films. The series was initially created as a trilogy set ''in medias res'' (partway through the plot) that was later expanded into a trilogy of trilogies, known as the "S ...
. All of his appearances are set prior to ''The Force Awakens''. In his own self-titled issue, ''Kylo Ren'' #1, Ren leads a First Order battalion to victory, succeeding in conquering a planet that Darth Vader had failed to bring under the Empire's control in the past.
In ''Finn'' #1, Finn briefly encounters Kylo Ren during the former's time as a sanitation worker on Starkiller Base. In ''General Hux'' #1, Ren and General Hux are stranded together on a hostile planet and are forced to put their mutual enmity aside in order to survive. ''Supreme Leader Snoke'' #1 showcases Ren's training under Snoke, who subjects Ren to various physical and mental torments in order to foster his anger and strength in the dark side of the Force. Snoke takes Ren to
Dagobah, where his uncle Luke Skywalker was trained by
Yoda
Yoda () is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He is a small, green humanoid alien who is powerful with the Force. He first appeared in the 1980 film '' The Empire Strikes Back'', in which he is voiced and puppeteered by F ...
decades before. Entering the cave where Luke once faced a spectral image of Darth Vader, Ren is confronted by similar visions of Luke, Han and Leia. While Ren vanquishes the vision of Luke, he finds himself unable to fully banish the image of his parents, who plead with him to return to the light.
''The Rise of Kylo Ren'' (2019–2020)
Marvel Comics' ''The Rise of Kylo Ren'' depicts how Ben Solo fell to the dark side. As a child, he is trained as a Jedi by Luke Skywalker alongside fellow students Voe, Hennix, and Tai. Voe grows jealous of Ben for his superior Force capability and Luke's perceived
favoritism. On a mission to the planet
Elphrona to investigate an ancient Jedi outpost with Luke and Lor San Tekka, Ben telepathically communicates with Snoke. Upon arriving on the planet, the trio encounters a group of Force-wielding mercenaries known as the Knights of Ren (after
their leader). After Ren agrees to retreat, he unmasks and, placing his mask on the ground, offers Ben an open invitation to the group's ranks if he ever desires in the future.
Several years later, Luke apparently tries to kill Ben in his sleep. Ben fights back and is terrified when a bolt of lightning strikes the Jedi Temple, destroying it. Later that night, Voe, Hennix, Tai return from off-planet to find Ben before the burning Temple. Ben confesses his belief that he has killed Luke, and states that he intends to leave the planet. Believing Ben to be responsible for the Temple's destruction, Voe attacks Ben, leading to Hennix being injured in the melee. Ben leaves the planet on a nearby shuttle, with the trio in close pursuit. Ben goes to meet Snoke, who is scarred from a previous encounter with Luke. Snoke encourages Ben to seek out the Knights of Ren. Traveling to the outpost on Elphrona, Ben retrieves Ren's mask and puts it on, putting the pair in communication. After mentioning Snoke, Ren invites Ben to meet the Knights on
Vanrak. Before he can leave, he is confronted by his fellow
Padawans.
Ben defends himself from Voe's attacks, and uses the Force to catch her after she falls off of a building. Hennix, believing Ben to have killed her, throws his lightsaber at Ben; in deflecting it, Hennix is bisected. Leaving, Ben collapses the bedrock around Voe and Tai and leaves the planet. Later, Ben meets with Ren and his Knights, who informs him that he will need to provide a "good death" for membership. Providing him with a black outfit, the group proceeds to the mine moon of
Mimban, where Ben assists the Knights in stealing an artifact. The Knights subsequently execute a group of locals, horrifying Ben. Suddenly, Voe and Tai arrive, having followed Ben through the Force. Voe attacks the Knights of Ren, while Tai reasons with Ben over his decision to leave. Witnessing this, Ren snaps Tai's neck, killing him, and telling Ben that Snoke was wrong about him. Enraged, Ben duels Ren. Meanwhile, Rey senses Ben from across the galaxy without knowing why; Leia senses Ben's fall, and
Palpatine
Sheev Palpatine ( ) is the main antagonist of the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He first appeared in the 1980 film ''The Empire Strikes Back'' as . He is also known by his Sith name, Darth Sidious, which was first used in the novelization of the 199 ...
manipulates events from afar, having apparently destroyed the Jedi Temple as well. Then, Ben impales Ren, providing him the "good death" he asked for.
Ben proceeds to kill Voe with Ren's lightsaber, then turns to find the Knights of Ren kneeling before him. Later, Ben bleeds his blue
Kyber crystal
A lightsaber is a fictional energy sword featured throughout ''Star Wars''. A typical lightsaber is shown as a luminous laser sword about in length emitted from a metal hilt around in length. First introduced in the original ''Star Wars'' ...
, cracking it in the process, and forges himself a crossguard lightsaber as the voice of Snoke asks him what his new name is.
Books
Kylo Ren is a
point of view
Point of View or Points of View may refer to:
Concept and technique
* Point of view (literature) or narrative mode, the perspective of the narrative voice; the pronoun used in narration
* Point of view (philosophy), an attitude how one sees or ...
character in the
2015
2015 was designated by the United Nations as:
* International Year of Light
* International Year of Soil __TOC__
Events
January
* January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...
,
2017
2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly.
Events January
* January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...
, and
2019 novelizations of the ''Star Wars'' sequel trilogy by
Alan Dean Foster
Alan Dean Foster (born November 18, 1946) is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction. He has written several book series, more than 20 standalone novels, and many novelizations of film scripts.
Career ''Star Wars''
Foster was the ghost ...
,
Jason Fry, and
Rae Carson
Rae Dawn Carson (born August 17, 1973, in Oakland, California) is an American fantasy writer. Her debut novel, '' The Girl of Fire and Thorns'', was published in 2011. Her books have also been translated into languages around the world. Beginning ...
.
According to the book ''Skywalker: A Family at War'' by Kristin Baver, as the son of
Princess Leia
Princess Leia Organa ( or ) is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. Introduced in the Star Wars (film), original ''Star Wars'' film in 1977, Leia is a princess of the planet Alderaan, a member of the Galactic Empire (Star Wars ...
,
Ben Solo would have inherited the title of "Prince of Alderaan" if the planet and the royal House of Organa not been destroyed by his grandfather,
Darth Vader
Darth Vader () is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He was first introduced in the original film trilogy as the primary antagonist and one of the leaders of the Galactic Empire. He has become one of the most iconic villain ...
, and
Empire
An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...
prior to his birth. Upon the birth of Ben Solo, he was considered a member of the Elder Houses of the galaxy, and entitled through hereditary succession to ceremonial titles, including "Supreme Governor of Birren", a small planet settled by Alderaanian explorers in the Inner Rim of the galaxy.
Through his maternal grandmother,
Padmé Amidala, Ben Solo is also descended from, and related to, the Naberrie family of
Naboo
The fictional universe of the ''Star Wars'' franchise features multiple planets and moons. While only the feature films and selected other works are considered canon to the franchise since the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by The Walt Di ...
.
According to the 2016 novel ''
Star Wars: Bloodline'' by
Claudia Gray
Claudia Gray is the pseudonym of Amy Vincent, an American writer of paranormal romance young adult fiction, best known for the Evernight (series), ''Evernight'' series and her ''Star Wars'' novels: ''Star Wars: Lost Stars, Lost Stars'', ''Star War ...
, as well as the 2017
Chuck Wendig novel ''
Star Wars: Aftermath: Empire's End'', due to the destruction of Alderaan, Princess Leia gave birth to Ben on
Chandrila, the home planet of
Mon Mothma, as well as the temporary capital of the
New Republic. Ben was born in 5 ABY, one year and four days after the
Battle of Endor in the film ''
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi'' (1983).
Kylo Ren is also mentioned in the 2017 novel ''
Star Wars: Phasma'' by
Delilah S. Dawson, which takes place before the events of the film ''
Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015).
According to the 2018 novel ''Last Shot: A Han and Lando Novel'' by
Daniel José Older, which features a young Ben Solo, the boy was never formally raised or
invested as a "Prince of Alderaan",
despite his mother leading the Alderaanian diaspora.
Out of the 2 billion inhabitants on Alderaan - with the modern-day populations of
China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
and
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
having about 2.8 billion people combined - about 60,000 survived the destruction of the planet due to being outside of its star system at the time.
One of the survivors,
Cara Dune, served as a marshal of the New Republic, presumably under Princess Leia, Ben Solo's mother, around 9 ABY.
Dune is played by
Gina Carano
Gina Joy Carano (born April 16, 1982) is an American actress and former Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. She competed in Elite Xtreme Combat and Strikeforce (mixed martial arts), Strikeforce from 2006 to 2009, where she compiled a 7– ...
in ''
The Mandalorian
''The Mandalorian'' is an American space Western television series created by Jon Favreau for the streaming service Disney+. It is the first live-action series in the ''Star Wars'' franchise and begins five years after the events of the fil ...
''.
Toys and games
Kylo is a playable character in the 2015 ''The Force Awakens'' add-on to the ''
Disney Infinity 3.0'' video game, with an ''Infinity'' character figurine available separately. He is also a character in the
strategy video game
Strategy video game is a major Video game genres, video game genre that focuses on analyzing and strategizing over direct quick reaction in order to secure success.
Although many types of video games can contain strategic elements, the strategy ...
''
Star Wars: Force Arena''.
Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (; a syllabic abbreviation of its original name, Hassenfeld Brothers) is an American multinational corporation, multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment holding company founded on December 6, 1923 by Henry, Hillel and Herma ...
has released a Kylo Ren action figure, and a figure in their Black Series line. He is also featured in the
Lego ''Star Wars'' playsets Kylo Ren's Command Shuttle (2015) and Battle on Takodana (2016), as well as a Lego Buildable Figure. The Lego version of Kylo also appears in the 2016 short form animated series ''
Lego Star Wars: The Resistance Rises'',
and as a playable character in ''
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' and ''
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga''.
Kylo appears in ''
Star Wars Battlefront II'', voiced by
Matthew Wood and
Roger Craig Smith
Roger Craig Smith is an American voice actor. He is known for his voice roles in video games such as Chris Redfield in the ''Resident Evil'' series (2009–2017), Ezio Auditore da Firenze in the ''Assassin's Creed'' series (2009–2011), Kyle C ...
, masked and unmasked respectively. In the game, Kylo interrogates Del Meeko about
Lor San Tekka's location (who possess the map to
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He was introduced in the original film trilogy as the main protagonist and also appears in the sequel trilogy. Raised as a poor moisture farmer on the desert planet Tat ...
) using his Force abilities. When Del finally relents and reveals the map and Lor San Tekka's location, Kylo leaves him for Hask, Del's former comrade in Inferno Squad.
Television
In January 2016, Driver reprised the role for a ''Star Wars'': ''
Undercover Boss'' sketch on ''
Saturday Night Live
''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...
'', with Kylo Ren disguising himself as a radar technician named "Matt" to determine what the Starkiller Base employees really think of him. Driver again reprised the role in January 2020 for a follow-up ''Saturday Night Live'' sketch titled "''Undercover Boss'': Where Are They Now?" in which Kylo goes undercover as "Randy", an entry-level intern on a star destroyer.
Kylo Ren, voiced once again by Matthew Wood, also appears in the ''
Star Wars Resistance
''Star Wars Resistance'' is an American 3D animated comic science fiction television series produced by Lucasfilm Animation. It follows Kazuda Xiono, a New Republic pilot who is recruited by the Resistance to spy on the growing threat of ...
'' series finale episode "The Escape", where he kills Agent Tierny for failing to destroy the Colossus Resistance. Kylo Ren is also one of the numerous voices heard in the
fourth and final season of ''
Star Wars Rebels
''Star Wars Rebels'' is an American 3D animated science fiction television series produced by Lucasfilm Animation and set in the ''Star Wars'' universe. It takes place 14 years after '' Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith'' (2005 ...
'' in the episode "A World Between Worlds", with an excerpt of Driver's dialogue from ''The Force Awakens'' being used.
[
]
Theme parks
Kylo Ren appears as a walk-around character within ''Star Wars'': Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland
Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney, ...
and Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. It is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Experiences division. Based on a concept by Marty Sklar, Randy Br ...
. The character appears during Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue is an attraction located at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. Set in the ''Star Wars'' universe, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue takes passengers o ...
and ''Star Wars'': Rise of the Resistance, with the latter featuring the character in audio-animatronic
Audio-Animatronics (also known simply as AAs) are a form of Mechatronics, mechatronic animatronics puppetry created by Walt Disney Imagineering and Trademark, trademarked by The Walt Disney Company for use in designed shows and attractions at Disn ...
form with Driver providing the voice.
Theater
In November 2019, Ichikawa Ebizō XI starred in a kabuki
is a classical form of Theatre of Japan, Japanese theatre, mixing dramatic performance with Japanese traditional dance, traditional dance. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily stylised performances, its glamorous, highly decorated costumes ...
production that depicted events in Ren's life from ''The Force Awakens'' and ''The Last Jedi''. The production was titled ''Star Wars Kabuki: Kairennosuke and the Three Shining Swords''. In addition, his son Kangen Horikoshi portrayed a younger version of Ren in the play's third act.
Reception
The character and Driver's portrayal have received critical acclaim; Driver won the 2016 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal. In January 2018, Ren was voted seventh greatest movie villain of all time by the readers of ''Empire
An empire is a political unit made up of several territories, military outpost (military), outposts, and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a hegemony, dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the ...
''.
Many reviewers commended Ren's conflicted nature and depth, as well as his costume design, and noted there were many places the character could be taken in future installments. Peter Bradshaw of ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' praised the character and the actor alike, saying, "He is gorgeously cruel, spiteful and capricious – and unlike the Vader of old, he is given to petulant temper tantrums, with his lightsaber drawn." Terri Schwartz of IGN
''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...
also called Driver's performance "spectacular", noting that "his performance adds great depth to a character who could have come off as one-dimensional, and the implications of his arc leave a viewer with plenty to think about after they leave the theater".
Robbie Collin of ''The Daily Telegraph
''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...
'' wrote, "To describe Kylo Ren as this film's Vader would be accurate in a sense...but it would also be to undersell the deep ingenuity with which this astonishing character has been crafted by Abrams, Kasdan and Arndt, and also the wells of emotional tumult Driver invests in him." Comparing the character to the one-note Vader of the 1977 film, Melissa Leon of ''The Daily Beast
''The Daily Beast'' is an American news website focused on politics, media, and pop culture. Founded in 2008, the website is owned by IAC Inc.
It has been characterized as a "high-end tabloid" by Noah Shachtman, the site's editor-in-chief ...
'' called Ren "a living battleground between darkness and light, making him a far more resonant and familiar portrayal of that struggle than we've ever seen in ''Star Wars''...hich
Ij () is a village in Golabar Rural District of the Central District in Ijrud County, Zanjan province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq ...
makes him a far more interesting villain".
JJ Abrams told ''Entertainment Weekly'', "It was a great joy to work with Adam Driver on this role, because he threw himself into it in a deep and remarkable way." Todd McCarthy of ''The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
'' noted, "Ren is given a pronounced inferiority complex
In psychology, an inferiority complex is a consistent feeling of inadequacy, often resulting in the belief that one is in some way deficient, or inferior, to others.
According to Alfred Adler, a feeling of inferiority may be brought about by ...
, a clever bad guy twist that could be taken to interesting places both in the writing and performance." Peter Travers
Peter Joseph Travers (born June 27, 1943) is an American film critic, journalist, and television presenter. He reviews films for ABC News and previously served as a movie critic for ''People'' and ''Rolling Stone''. Travers also hosts the film i ...
of ''Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason.
The magazine was first known fo ...
'' wrote, "The bald-faced attempt to clone Darth Vader
Darth Vader () is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He was first introduced in the original film trilogy as the primary antagonist and one of the leaders of the Galactic Empire. He has become one of the most iconic villain ...
, one of the greatest badasses in film history, is clankingly obvious, but Driver, masked and unmasked, gives him hypnotic and haunting contours." Kyle Buchanan of Vulture.com was underwhelmed by the reveal of Driver under the mask. Leon, however, argued:
Some viewers noted that Ben Solo/Kylo Ren's character arc
A character arc is the transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story. If a story has a character arc, the character begins as one sort of person and gradually transforms into a different sort of person in response to c ...
shares similarities with that of the ''Star Wars'' Expanded Universe character Jacen Solo, the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia, who threatens the galaxy as a fallen Jedi and new Sith
The Sith are the main antagonists in the fictional universe of the ''Star Wars'' franchise. They are the antithesis and ancient enemies of the Jedi. The Sith Order is depicted as an ancient cult of warriors who draw strength from the dark sid ...
Lord known as Darth Caedus. Additionally, critics have noted a resemblance between Ren's character design and that of Revan, a character from '' Knights of the Old Republic''.
See also
* Skywalker family
Notes
References
Citations
Works cited
*
*
*
*
Further reading
*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ren, Kylo
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