Kylo Ren has spent the sequel trilogy trying to contend with his own legacy. He's not only trying to take on the mantle of dark lord that was vacated after the death of Darth Vader, but he's also resisting his legacy as Ben Solo. The estranged son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ben gave into the Dark Side when his uncle Luke Skywalker temporarily contemplated killing him to preemptively stop him from ever becoming a villain, ironically fulfilling the fate that Luke had hoped to stop in the first place. Kylo has been the central antagonist of the films, killing his father in The Force Awakens and taking control of the First Order during The Last Jedi. He's tried to fully embrace his darker half, pushing down the Ben Solo aspects of his personality. That struggle will still be present in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
During a press conference in Los Angeles to celebrate the upcoming release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Kylo Ren's actor Adam Driver spoke about how much of Ben Solo still exists in the character, and if he ever peeks through Ren's exterior.
That inner conflict has fueled the character in the previous films is still at play with the character in The Rise of Skywalker. Talking about how the side of him closer to Ben Solo peeks out from Kylo's attempts to keep him pushed down, Driver said that those aspects are there "maybe subconsciously. I don't think it's a... when people are actively trying to hide a certain part of their lives, I think they can do it pretty successfully. It becomes about what's around them that brings it out of them. I don't think it's something we actively talked about playing it [like that], but it's definitely a thought to have."
Drive said that he didn't believe all that complexity came from him, however. Driver explained, "I think that's a testament to the writing. Ever since the beginning, it was... [the first movie] being called The Force Awakens was intentional because it was an awakening not just for the light but also the dark. And JJ, even in those first meetings was talking about someone who was unformed... And that was really helpful as an actor because we were still figuring out the story and doing the same thing. It echoed what was going on in the story, especially in the [Star Wars: The Force Awakens]. The cast figuring out where they fit in a legacy that spans so much time. That was helpful, but I guess it's similar to how I get to. [Kylo's] subconscious thought is me as an actor, thinking about it."
Directed and co-written by J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billie Lourd, Keri Russell, Matt Smith, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher, with Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant. The film arrives on Dec. 20.