Kylo Ren isn’t evil, he just thinks he’s right

He might have callously killed his father Han Solo, but like all well-written “bad guys,” Kylo Ren is the hero of his own Star Wars story.

“He is someone who doesn’t think of himself as evil, but thinks of himself as right,” says Adam Driver, who reprises his role as the conflicted Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

“It’s definitely more exciting to play because I don’t think I know what pure evil is, nor does that seem to be something that sustains itself or is interesting to watch,” Driver says. “Watching people who feel kind of morally justified to behave the way they do is in a way more unpredictable and dangerous because there’s nothing that they won’t do to accomplish their mission because they feel empowered in being right.”

The 34-year-old actor, who had previously been best known for his role on HBO’s Girls, says his anonymity has mostly gone away since joining the Star Wars galaxy but that it’s ok.

“Sometimes going places just requires more planning. But the scale of those movies, because they’re so multi-generational, or cross generational, the amount of people who come up to you and recognise you is kind of unpredictable,” he says. “But the kid part of it is for me the most fun: Seeing kids, or people bringing their kids or supplying their kids with lightsabres. I love that part. But they’re usually confused, like “Why is Kylo Ren wearing a jogging suit?”

The kids who are especially taken with Kylo give him slight pause, though.

“I worry about them,” Driver laughs. “Especially if they’re with their father.”

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