How the Mask Made Adam Driver Take on Kylo Ren (Exclusive)

Adam Driver’s conflicted Star Wars figure Ben Solo has been in the news lately for all the wildest reasons that it’s almost easy to forget that next month marks ten years since he made his galactic debut with the release of The Force Awakens. Now, to celebrate that anniversary, a legendary Star Wars publication is going back to how the sequel trilogy began to shape its fascinating dark side foil—and we’ve got a look inside.

Ahead of Force Awakens‘ anniversary next month, io9 has an exclusive look at a few pages from Star Wars Insider‘s 10-year anniversary special covering the film’s landmark moment. A hardcover, fully illustrated release, the magazine includes almost 100 pages of behind-the-scenes insight and interviews about the making of a whole new era of Star Wars, from concept art that shaped the early phases of the sequel trilogy, to early scripting, all the way to shooting the movie and beyond.

Just one of the new interviews included is, of course, all about the evolution of the film’s antagonist, with Adam Driver discussing just why he wanted to take on a role like Kylo Ren in the first place. The intrigue, it turns out, started with the mysterious mask that hid Ben Solo from the world and his pained parents, Han and Leia.

“Wearing a mask is quite a challenging thing… [the prospect] was very scary and terrifying, so it wasn’t immediately a ‘yes,’†Driver said of the offer to join Star Wars. “Actually, I thought about it quite a bit, even though it was kind of a no-brainer, but I didn’t want to take it lightly.â€

Beyond Ren’s connection to the broader Star Wars world, Driver was fascinated by the physicality of the character, and how much of Ben Solo’s personality had been shaped, almost subsumed even, by the costume that was Kylo Ren. “There are so many layers to Kylo Ren anyway, it was interesting to find out who he was with the mask on or with the mask off, and that was part of our initial conversations,†Driver continued.

“There’s something empowering for someone to completely hide themselves in a mask that is so intimidating.â€

It’s perhaps no surprise then that a decade later—and two more movies, including an untimely redemption and sudden death—Driver remains fascinated by the potential of who Ben Solo could be… a potential that, given everything we’ve heard lately, might go unseen for a good while yet after Disney put the brakes on The Hunt for Ben Solo. While we ponder what could’ve been, however, ponder what was in our full excerpt from Star Wars Insider‘s interview with Driver below.

Star Wars Insider Presents: The Force Awakens 10 Year Anniversary Special is available now.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.