"Star Wars Episode VIII" will continue right where "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" left off and will further flesh out the stories of Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). New rumors now suggest that it will also explore the true nature of Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis), who only appeared as a giant hologram thus far.
According to The Week, a popular fan theory circling around is that Snoke is, in fact, a small being who suffers from an inferiority complex, which is why he uses holograms to make himself appear bigger and more menacing. The report points out that his real size may make him comparable to the likes of Yoda.
Director Rian Johnson has yet to confirm if this rumor is true or if it indicates even a glimmer of what Snoke is really like. The Supreme Leader was not really shown much in "The Force Awakens," and also, the film did not give any hint about his backstory, although it is widely speculated that he is a former member of the Empire.
One other character with a mysterious past is Kylo Ren, who was revealed to be Ben Solo. In "The Force Awakens," it was confirmed that he still suffered from an internal conflict, choosing between the Dark Side with Snoke or returning to the Light with his father, Han Solo (Harrison Ford). In the end, he murdered his father and fully committed to the Dark Side.
J.J. Abrams, who directed "The Force Awakens" and who will produce "Episode VIII," recently spoke with USA Today and further explained what Kylo Ren was thinking when he stabbed his father. This also hints at the upcoming story arc that Kylo Ren will go through in the next film.
"People have asked me if I think that Kylo Ren was just playing with him the whole time, if he meant to kill him from the beginning. And the truth is, I think Kylo Ren, in this moment, is actually being convinced to walk away from this. Snoke is, as Han says, using him, and I think that somewhere Ben knows this. But I think that he can't accept it. Deep down, he has gone too far," Abrams explained.
"Star Wars Episode VIII" opens in theaters on Dec. 15, 2017.
