Star Wars: The Last Jedi director hesitant to destroy Kylo Ren’s mask

Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson wasn’t sold on destroying Kylo Ren’s mask.

To add to the controversy of what has undoubtedly become one of the most divisive films of the Star Wars franchise since Episode I: The Phantom Menace back in ’99, director Rian Johnson, had to make a lot of tough decisions for this year’s Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.

One of those decisions was to destroy Kylo Ren’s trademark mask. Ben Solo (his civilian alias) of course wore the mask as he was closer to the dark side in Episode VII: The Force Awakens though after being undermined by Supreme Leader Snoke, Ren destroyed the mask in VIII, which made a brief return.

Johnson eventually believed it was a fitting choice to make, but a decision which contains factors that would prove a challenge to uphold. The Looper director discussed his changes to Ren’s costume in The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

The removal of Ren’s mask being a necessary part of his character’s evolution was highlighted by Johnson. He said:

"“That was the big design choice with Kylo: losing his mask. It was a little terrifying because, by the time we were making the movie, the first film had come out and every kid was wearing Kylo Ren masks on Halloween. It was the symbol of the movie on packaging. And I love the helmet. But the whole premise of the film is that you’re getting inside this guy a bit more. More than that, Rey is seeing there’s more to him than she though. And Adam Driver is one of my favorite actors working today. The motion of getting the mask off of him so we don’t have to deal with it and can look into his eyes seemed really important.”"

Ren’s transformation is quite implicit and parallel to Anakin Skywalker’s journey in becoming Darth Vader. Though unlike his grandfather, Ren seeks to let go of the past and be his own man.

The Last Jedi, despite its uproar among fans, has been praised by critics and has crossed some boundaries in the franchise’s mythology; it is debatable on whether Johnson was more daring in tackling this tentpole film. It has grossed so far $892 million worldwide.

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