ADVERTISEMENT

How Will the Knights of Ren and Kylo Ren Intertwine in The Rise of Skywalker?

What Are The Knights of Ren Doing In Star Wars?

A new Vanity Fair photospread reveals the return of the Knights of Ren to the Star Wars world. These characters are deeply intertwined with the roots of Adam Driver's Kylo Ren. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will hit theaters on December 20.

Over the course of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens and Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, Adam Driver's Kylo Ren has become one of the most complex, layered, and compelling cinematic villains of the last decade. But considering that we know Kylo's real name is Ben Solo- He's Han Solo and Princess Leia's son, after all- an important detail has never quite been explained: Where did 'Kylo Ren' come from?

New photos from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker tease the return of a group known as "The Knights of Ren," which fans likely remember from The Force Awakens. An image from an exclusive Vanity Fair spread shows J.J. Abrams, who directed both films mentioned above, directing the aforementioned knights in a desert-set scene; we're meant to fill in the rest of the blanks, for now.

V.F. can exclusively confirm that the mysterious Knights of Ren-first seen in #StarWars : The Force Awakens-are back in #TheRiseofSkywalker https://t.co/ER4XSJmZ8k pic.twitter.com/cBrdAOrqSv - VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) May 22, 2019

ADVERTISEMENT

Abrams made it clear when promoting The Force Awakens that "Kylo Ren" wasn't a given name, but rather a title that the villain had come to earn due to his standing within that group. The Knights of Ren are referred to and featured very briefly in a flashback in The Force Awakens.

Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis) refers to Kylo Ren as "Master of the Knights of Ren," and when Rey (Daisy Ridley) first touches Luke Skywalker's lightsaber, she sees varying images from the past-one of which is a shot of Kylo Ren and the Knights of Ren, assumedly after the uprising that slaughtered the rest of Luke Skywalker's Jedi students. Or are the rest of Luke's students the Knights themselves, convinced by Ben Solo to join him on the dark side? It seems like The Rise of Skywalker may finally answer that question.

While it's interesting that The Rise of Skywalker, which will conclude this trilogy of Star Wars films, is finally going to bring the Knights of Ren into the story and flesh them out, it's also interesting that another Vanity Fair breakout piece refers to Kylo as the "onetime leader" of the Knights of Ren. We know that The Rise of Skywalker has a time-jump from the events that occurred in Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi, but how long is that jump? Last we saw Kylo Ren, he had killed Snoke and taken on the role of Supreme Leader himself. Is he the "onetime leader" of the Knights of Ren simply due to moving on to bigger, more evil things? Or does this mark Kylo, much like his grandfather, Darth Vader, on the path to a possible redemption?

It's also worth noting that the big Vanity Fair spread marks the introduction of two new characters, both played by notable actors, and both possibly additional villains to the story. We get a first glimpse of Keri Russell as "masked scoundrel Zorri Bliss," who sounds very Boba Fett, and a look at Richard E. Grant as "Allegiant General Pryde," which is both a fantastic name and one that sounds quite evil as well. Could these two-plus seemingly incessant villain Emperor Palpatine, whose unmistakable laugh was heard at the end of the last trailer-be the replacement heavies once Ben Solo inevitably returns to the side of the Jedis?

#StarWars : The Rise of Skywalker features many new characters, including Keri Russell as Zorri Bliss and Richard E. Grant as Allegiant General Pryde. Get your first look right here. https://t.co/ER4XSJmZ8k pic.twitter.com/vtykcfUEjP - VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) May 22, 2019

ADVERTISEMENT

Frankly, that wouldn't be my choice. Part of what made The Last Jedi so strong was the fact that when there was a moment for Kylo Ren to turn back towards the good side, he went the other way. He killed his master not in an attempt to do the right thing and eliminate evil, but to take his place as the higher-up evil figure. He didn't attempt to repair his relationship with Luke Skywalker-he attempted to shoot him with every gun they had . Adam Driver's performance in the Star Wars movies has been so unique-he plays a character immature in so many ways, yet so powerful and entirely aware of it.

The character is so full of energy in every scene, and every piece of rebellious villainy on screen is totally earned and understood. Even with an entire film left in the trilogy, Kylo Ren is already a character whose intents, motivations, and actions are totally understood-that leaves a lot of freedom for where a writer and director can go in the future. Whatever Abrams and company decide to do with him in the end will probably work out(as long as the writing is there), but count me in as a vote for team-evil.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 reasons Easter was more fun when we were children

5 things you need to do immediately after sex

5 things you need to do immediately after sex

Do you have to go to church on Good Friday and Holy Saturday? We explain

Do you have to go to church on Good Friday and Holy Saturday? We explain

There are many things you should not do on Easter

There are many things you should not do on Easter

The Skilled Awards 3rd edition a big success in Bowen University

The Skilled Awards 3rd edition a big success in Bowen University

6 most common wedding day regrets couples experience

6 most common wedding day regrets couples experience

7 qualities of high-value women you should cultivate

7 qualities of high-value women you should cultivate

'Ugliest woman in the world' endured humiliation to provide for her children

'Ugliest woman in the world' endured humiliation to provide for her children

I Tried an Inflatable Butt Plug and It Was Absolutely Ridiculous

I Tried an Inflatable Butt Plug and It Was Absolutely Ridiculous

3 things that could happen when you take cold drinks during your period

3 things that could happen when you take cold drinks during your period

7 foods to eat for longer stamina and sex drive

7 foods to eat for longer stamina and sex drive

The dark sides of vaping and why you shouldn't indulge in it

The dark sides of vaping and why you shouldn't indulge in it

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT