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Kylo Ren–Character Explained by Adam Driver, Actor Who Portrays Him

Kylo Ren is a character in the new film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. During a recent interview with the L.A. Times, the actor who plays Kylo Ren–Adam Driver–talks about the character in ...
Kylo Ren–Character Explained by Adam Driver, Actor Who Portrays Him
Written by Kimberly Ripley
  • Kylo Ren is a character in the new film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. During a recent interview with the L.A. Times, the actor who plays Kylo Ren–Adam Driver–talks about the character in depth.

    One of the first things Driver was asked about is Kylo Ren’s mask. Did he have any say in its creation?

    “I think they had a lot already figured out,” Adam Driver said. “Then I had some input on [the mask] once I got there. But it was mostly suggestions such as, ‘Oh, I can’t move,’ or ‘I can’t see.'”

    They talked next about the void in Kylo Ren’s mask where once there were eyes.

    “The eyes were a thing that J.J. [Abrams, the film’s director] and I talked about early. I thought what was so great about the [Darth] Vader mask was how you projected your emotions onto him, and you could see his eyes. I was kind of nervous that in being fully cloaked, you have to really rely on the power of thought, and that it’s powerful enough that it will get through being concealed. Then J.J. actually took out the eyes out of the mask, to make it a void, which I thought was really interesting,” Driver said.

    The costume Adam Driver wears as Kylo Ren in the film wasn’t comfortable to wear throughout what no doubt became many takes.

    “The costume–even putting it on at first–was very uncomfortable and tight. But there was something about someone who decides to completely hide themselves that I felt was kind of interesting, and maybe that’s hopefully worked its way into the movie,” Driver said.

    As the interview proceeded, Adam Driver was eventually asked that question that every bona fide Star Wars fan likely wants to know. What was it like for him to work with some tried and true Star Wars icons like Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher? Was that intimidating?

    “I didn’t find them to be people who would say, “Let me sit you down and tell you what your experience is going to be on this.” They gave you space and let you find this on your own, very humble and very generous,” he said.

    What’s your take on Kylo Ren? Is he the new character that Star Wars fans will discuss for years to come–the way the older films put Darth Vader on the hot seat? What similarities do you think Kylo Ren and Darth Vader share?

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