Kylo Ren
| Kylo Ren/Ben Solo | |
|---|---|
| Star Wars character | |
| File:KyloRen-2015.jpg Kylo Ren in a promotional image for The Force Awakens. | |
| First appearance | The Force Awakens (2015) |
| Created by | |
| Portrayed by | Adam Driver |
| Voiced by | Adam Driver (Disney Infinity 3.0) |
| In-universe information | |
| Alias | Kylo Ren, Master of The Knights of Ren |
| Species | Human |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation |
|
| Affiliation |
|
| Family |
|
| Relatives |
|
Kylo Ren, also known as Ben Solo, is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. Introduced in the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he is the son of original Star Wars trilogy characters Han Solo and Leia Organa, who becomes a dark warrior strong with the Force after joining the Knights of Ren. In the film, he is a leading member of the First Order.
Concept and creation
With Lucasfilm acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2012, the script for The Force Awakens was written by Lawrence Kasdan, J. J. Abrams and Michael Arndt, with no direct participation from Star Wars creator George Lucas. According to director Abrams, Ren was initially conceived as a figurehead within the First Order who represents the organization's admiration of Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire. Abrams said that the First Order is inspired by the theory of ODESSA, which allegedly involved SS officers fleeing to Argentina following World War II.[1]
In an interview with Time, the costume designer for The Force Awakens, Michael Kaplan, said that Kylo Ren was the most difficult character to design for the film. Abrams requested that the character be designed to have features that would be memorable for a child. After numerous attempts to gain Abrams' approval, the final design was selected, due in large part to its spaghetti-styled fabric lining across the body and silver reflective lining along the mask. He was an unnamed villain at first, but later got a name.[2]
Appearances
The Force Awakens (2015)
In the film, Ben Solo (named after Obi-Wan Kenobi) is revealed to have trained as a Jedi for a time under his uncle, Luke Skywalker. He was corrupted to the dark side of the Force by Supreme Leader Snoke, and wipes out all of Skywalker's other apprentices. Ben is obsessed with his grandfather, the Sith Lord Darth Vader, and joins the Knights of Ren, taking the name Kylo Ren.
When Poe Dameron is sent by General Leia Organa to Jakku to retrieve a map containing Luke Skywalker's location, Kylo Ren leads a squad of Stormtroopers to capture Dameron. But before he is captured, Dameron gives the map to his droid, BB-8. Ren then used the Force to torture Dameron, forcing him to reveal the location of the map. After dispatching his troops to capture the droid, Ren discovers that a scavenger called Rey and a rogue Stormtrooper named Finn aided it in escaping. Ren then tracks them down and confronts Rey in a forest, where he subdues her and brings her back to Starkiller Base for interrogation.
When the Resistance attempts to destroy the Starkiller Base, Han confronts Ren. Addressing him by his birth name, Ben, Han implores him to abandon the Dark Side. Ren appears to be somewhat swayed by his father, but rejects his offer and kills Han by stabbing him with his lightsaber and watches him fall into the reactor shaft below. Chewbacca then shoots and injures Ren, who chases Finn and Rey onto the surface, where Finn tries to fight him using Anakin's lightsaber. When Finn is wounded, Rey takes up the lightsaber and fights Ren, eventually overpowering him with the Force and further wounding him before they are separated by a fissure. Snoke orders the base to be evacuated and for Ren to be brought to him to complete his training.[3]
Family tree
Template:Skywalker-Solo family tree
References
- ^ Dyer, James (August 25, 2015). "JJ Abrams Spills Details On Kylo Ren". Empire Online. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
- ^ "How Kylo Ren's Terrifying Mask Was Designed to Be Unforgettable to Kids". Time. December 11, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
- ^ Saavedra, John (December 17, 2015). "Star Wars: The Force Awakens Easter Eggs and Reference Guide". Den of Geek. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
External links
- Kylo Ren in the Official StarWars.com Encyclopedia
- Kylo Ren on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
- Template:IMDb character
