During a recent appearance on the ‘SmartLess’ podcast, ‘Adam Driver reflected on his experience in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise, revealing his own struggles and decisions that led to a less enjoyable experience than he anticipated.
Driver rose to prominence with his Kylo Ren role in the trilogy from 2015 to 2019. During the conversation, he pointed out the factors that added to the exhaustion he felt. Contrasting his experience with previous work, Driver noted the difference in the set dynamics, saying:
“‘Star Wars’ was way more exhausting for me … I made it more exhausting than it should have been. I hadn’t quite figured out the momentum of a set that was that big before. All the things I had worked on were pretty small and moved pretty fast … The director sets the pace of the set. I don’t like to control that. I have to adjust. Spike Lee and [Steven] Soderbergh shoot really fast. For me, that’s not comfortable, but it’s their movie and their film, so I adjust.”
Will Adam Driver Return As Kylo Ren?
Last month, the actor touched upon the evolution of his character, Kylo Ren. Originally intended to become increasingly evil, the character’s arc shifted towards a conflicted anti-hero. This change, according to Driver, occurred during the filming and deviated from the initial plan proposed by J.J. Abrams.
Amidst speculation about future Star Wars films, Driver told the ‘SmartLess’ podcast that he would not return to the franchise, citing the completion of his character’s arc as the reason:
“They’re doing stuff, but not with me. I’m not doing anymore.”
This announcement comes as the franchise prepares for its next chapter, with Daisy Ridley reprising her role as Rey. Ridley’s upcoming film, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and written by Steven Knight, focuses on Rey’s journey to rebuild the Jedi Order.
As the Star Wars saga continues to evolve, so does Driver’s career. Looking ahead, he has confirmed roles in Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis‘ and a rumored involvement in ‘Heat 2‘ as the Young Neil McCauley. However, it appears his time in the Star Wars universe has ended.
