The "Star Wars" team is doing a great job in keeping things under wraps months before the new movie makes its worldwide premiere. But on Wednesday, Aug. 12, Entertainment Weekly unveiled 12 new images from "The Force Awakens," and although director J.J. Abrams gave some information about Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, there's still very little information about the movie itself.
When the first teaser for the seventh installment in "Star Wars" film series was released, fans got a glimpse of Kylo Ren wielding a red lightsaber with a laser crossguard at the hilt. Of the weapon, Abrams told EW that Ren built the weapon all by himself and that "it is as dangerous and as fierce and as ragged as the character."
Ren is seen wearing a metallic mask, and Abrams said that the movie reveals the origins of the mask and where it is from, but the design was definitely made to be a nod to Darth Vader's mask, and that his appearance was influenced by Vader, who died long before Ren's birth.
As for his origins, Abrams continued to play coy but revealed that Kylo Ren is not the character's real name. Much like "Darth" is a title in the "Star Wars" universe, "Ren" is something similar.
"He is a character who came to the name Kylo Ren when he joined a group called the Knights of Ren," said the director.
Abrams didn't elaborate on Ren's history nor did he reveal his real name, but it's possible that his parents are very familiar to Star Wars fans.
As for fan favorites Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), it is unclear how much screen time the original characters will get since there has been no word about the movie's plot. Moreover, the film will also explore the stories of newcomers Rey (Daisy Ridley) and storm trooper Finn (John Boyega), but at one point, all five characters will reportedly end up in Han's Millennium Falcon starship.
"Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens" premieres on Dec. 18.
