With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker only a few short weeks away, theories and discussions surrounding Rey and Kylo Ren’s ultimate fate are running rampant among fans. “Reylo,” the fan created nickname for Rey and Kylo’s volatile and powerful relationship, is one of the top topics for fans to theorycraft and pick apart.
Some fans believe Rey will redeem Ben Solo to the Light side of The Force, some believe their fates will culminate in a love story, while others see the two as ying and yang forces that are destined to destroy one another. Whatever theory you subscribe to, the fact remains that Rey and Kylo Ren’s relationship is the centerpiece to the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga and will undoubtedly steer the future course for the sequel trilogy’s characters.
In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Rise of Skywalker director J.J. Abrams dug into Rey and Kylo Ren’s relationship, discussing their entwined fates, the work of the actors Daisy Ridley and Adam Scott, and what makes they drawn to one another.
“They’re stronger, but because each is stronger, so is their adversary,” Abrams said to Vanity Fair. “The characters are connected in this profound way, drawn to each other, curious about each other, knowledgeable about each other. They also are, by definition, working on opposite sides of things. And so the dichotomy of those characters is the thing that, for me, is most fascinating.”
“I look back at what Daisy did in The Force Awakens, and I thought her work was exceptional. She’s so damn talented,” Abrams said. “But I look at what she’s done in this film, and I’m so awestruck by her maturity and her nuance and the power that she brought to this part. As challenging as I knew this movie was going to be for me as a director, I also knew it was going to be extraordinarily challenging for her. And she exceeded my wildest dreams of what she might do.”
“Adam, as well, goes to a far deeper, more interesting, compelling, and subtle place with his character. When we met Kylo, he was almost like a bit of an adolescent. He would sort of rage. He aspired to a kind of power and control, but he was out of control.”
In The Rise of Skywalker, Abrams said Kylo Ren is “much more centered, no less broken, but far more controlled. Having assumed the position of Supreme Leader, he comes to the story a much more mature figure while still, in his own way, raging. If you compare [Kylo] with Rey, they both have this kind of confidence in their position, and yet the stakes have only grown greater. The challenge has only grown more significant. They’re both in brand-new and yet similar situations.”
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters December 20.
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