Here's My Favorite Luke Skywalker Theory, and He's NOT Kylo Ren
There has been a lot of fan speculation lately regarding Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. A lot of people surprisingly believe that Luke is actually the villain Kylo Ren. This is 100% false. Luke Skywalker's is NOT Kylo Ren. There's just way too much evidence that proves that he's not. But I do believe that he is connected to him.
Over the weekend, I had an in-depth discussion with a friend regarding Luke's role in the new film, and there's a theory we discussed that I'm pretty confident about. I haven't seen this theory anywhere else online, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to share it with you.
I believe that Luke Skywalker is the person who started the Knights of Ren, or an original branch of it. I think he started the Knights of Ren as a Jedi Knight offshoot for the purpose of doing good and as a way to help keep the Galaxy in balance. Maybe even as a way to try to help right the wrongs of his father. The significance of the "Ren" title has yet to be revealed.
Like the Jedi Knights, the Knights of Ren can be likened to a religion. A lot of time in religion, there are people who don't like what they are being taught. Maybe somewhere down the line someone learns a certain truth that was being withheld from him. Maybe that person embraces that truth in the wrong way and he breaks off to form another branch of that religion. I think that's kind of how Kylo Ren comes into play.
J.J. Abrams previously said that Kylo works "under Supreme Leader Snoke, who is a powerful figure on the Dark Side of the Force." Snoke is being played by Andy Serkis. I think maybe Snoke is the person that was connected with Luke at some point, and that they had a parting of ways. A lot can happen between two people in 30 years.
I think Kylo Ren went against the teachings of Luke after he finds out some kind of truth about Darth Vader that he wasn't told before, and like we learned in the trailer, Ren wants to finish what Vader started. He thinks what he's doing is heroic. Abrams previously said this about Ren:
"I think that what makes Ren so unique is that he isn’t as fully formed as when we meet a character such as Darth Vader. And I think that there are two sides to the Force. Both sides, arguably, would see themselves as the hero of their story, and I think that applies here.”
It's possible Ren has been fed some twisted truths about Vader from a person that has close ties to Skywalker. I personally don't think Skywalker will even come into play in the story until the end of the movie. I think his story arc will really take off in Episode VIII and that he and Kylo will eventually face off with each other.
So, that's what's going through my head. As a Star Wars fan, it's always fun speculating about stuff, and this is just my little contribution. If you have a theory of your own, please feel free to share it! I'd love to see what the rest of you are thinking!