The Big Bad Theory
Let’s be honest – a version of this is what we’re all hoping for, isn’t it? Luke has been battling the lure of the Dark Side for decades. Is it really that difficult to believe he may have succumbed? That kind of power, coupled with the level of emotional trauma he endured in the original trilogy would be enough to drive anyone to the brink of their psychological wellbeing – just as the same combination of factors did for his father. There was some initial theorizing that Luke Skywalker might be the man in the black mask – Kylo Ren – but this is demonstrably false. Kylo Ren is known to be played by Adam Driver, but that doesn’t mean that Ren isn’t keeping it in the family, however.
Kylo Ren is powerful warrior with the Dark Side, and Commander of the First Order – essentially the new Empire force. Could it be that Kylo Ren is the son of Luke Skywalker, and therefore the Grandson of Darth Vader? Is that why, in the final trailer, he pledges to “finish” what Vader “started”? But, here’s the thing: Kylo Ren’s boss is the Supreme Leader Snoke, and he is played by motion capture guru Andy Serkis. This is a fact that has given rise to the idea that Supreme Leader Snoke is actually Luke Skywalker, and that he has undergone significant physical transformation in the intervening years, as tends to happen to Dark Side leaders – leading to a character that is portrayed by Serkis and, essentially voiced by Hamill. But, I’m compelled to dismiss that out of hand.
Firstly, it would be something of an anticlimax if, after the intensity of the conflict in the original trilogy – both internally and externally – Luke Skywalker simply fell straight into the position that Darth Vader and his boss wanted him in all along. It’s a little too neat, and a little too obvious. Star Wars has always been about plot twists, and jaw-dropping revelations – usually surrounding family history. Secondly, the first voice we hear in the first teaser trailer would seem to be that of Andy Serkis. It is reminiscent of The Emperor from the original trilogy. It is clearly the Big Bad.
Personally, I’m going to plump for a theory that includes elements of a variety of the above theories. The result may well be more spoiler-filled than what has gone before. You have been warned.