J.J. Abrams' highly anticipated sci-fi flick "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is not lacking for interesting characters, and one such figure is Adam Driver's Kylo Ren.
In the promotional posters, Kylo Ren was seen wielding red lightsabers reminiscent of Sith villains Darth Vader and Darth Maul, but the director insists that Kylo Ren is not a Sith.
Abrams has told Empire Magazine that Driver's mysterious character is simply working for the film's main villain played by Andy Serkis.
"Kylo Ren is not a Sith. He works under Supreme Leader Snoke (Serkis), who is a powerful figure on the Dark Side of the Force," he shared.
Meanwhile, during an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Abrams expounded further. He said that Kylo Ren actually belongs to a completely different faction.
"He is a character who came to the name Kylo Ren when he joined a group called the Knights of Ren," Abrams revealed.
He added that there is a pretty good reason why Kylo Ren's costume makes fans think of Darth Vader.
"The movie explains the origins of the mask and where it's from, but the design was meant to be a nod to the Vader mask. (Kylo Ren) is well aware of what's come before, and that's very much a part of the story of the film," he explained.
Abrams talked about the origins of the galaxy's new oppressors, saying that the new villains are actually inspired by real life events and characters.
"That all came out of conversations about what would have happened if the Nazis all went to Argentina but then started working together again?'" Abrams said. "What could be born of that? Could The First Order exist as a group that actually admired The Empire? Could the work of The Empire be seen as unfulfilled? And could Vader be a martyr? Could there be a need to see through what didn't get done?"
As for Serkis, he described his villain as someone who has more than a couple of hinges unscrewed.
"He is severely damaged. Although he's a powerful leader, he comes across as vulnerable. Very scarred and disfigured," he said.
Because of the special effects used to make his character come alive, Serkis noted that "it was very challenging and scary, in fact probably one of my most scary film experiences I've ever had."
"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will be released on December 18, 2015.
