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Darth Vader legacy a key plot point of Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Story by Jack Foley

THE legacy of Darth Vader looks set to play a key part in the story of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

According to director JJ Abrams, the late Vader could be a “martyr” figure who inspires a new generation of evil.

Speaking in Empire magazine, the filmmaker was quizzed about the role of Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver, whose appearance – including his mask – possess a Vader-like quality.

Excited fans have furiously been speculating about Ren’s role in the series, with many suggesting that Ren’s new First Order could be a direct descendent of the evil Galactic Empire featured in the original Star Wars trilogy.

Abrams did dismiss part of this theory by insisting that “Kylo Ren is not a Sith”, adding: “He works under Supreme Leader Snoke [played by Andy Serkis], who is a powerful figure on the Dark Side of the Force.”

As yet, Snoke has not appeared in early trailers or images but he is rumoured to be a CGI creature with motion-captured movements, a move that would fully utilise Serkis’ skills in this area of filmmaking.

Similarly, it is not yet known whether Snoke is connected to the First Order.

But Abrams did elaborate a little more, saying: “That all came out of conversations about what would have happened if the Nazis all went to Argentina, but started working together again. What could be born of that? Could the First Order exist as a group that actually admired the Empire? Could the work of the Empire be seen as unfulfilled? And could Vader be a martyr? Could there be a need to see through what didn’t get done?”

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens in UK cinemas on December 18, 2015.

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