Ben Solo (formerly known as Kylo Ren) is the central antagonist of the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
The son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, Been was once the padawan of his uncle Luke Skywalker before he was seduced by the Dark side by Supreme Leader Snoke. He is the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo and Supreme Leader of the First Order, and the grandson of Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker. During the sequel trilogy, he develops an intimate and complicated relationship with the protagonist Rey Skywalker, who is his love interest and together they form a dyad in the Force. In the end, he resurrects her, saving the woman he loves.
In the films and various media, Ben Solo was portrayed and voiced by Adam Driver.
Kylo Ren is the secondary antagonist of the first installment Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens and the main antagonist of the second installment Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi before he progressively becomes the deuteragonist of the final installment Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker. He is also the overarching antagonist of Season 2 of the 2018-2020 animated television series Star Wars Resistance and the titular protagonist of the 2019-2020 comic miniseries The Rise of Kylo Ren.[1]
History
Early life
Bloodlines
The Force Awakens
The Last Jedi
The Rise of Skywalker
Personality
Abilities
Mastery over the light and dark sides of the Force
Anger empowerment
Enhanced jump
Superhuman strength
Superhuman endurance
Superhuman mobility
Superhuman dexterity
Superhuman reflexes
Telekinesis
Telepathy
Force Vision
Mind control
Dyad in the Force
Connection to Rey
Force Healing
Resurrection
Unique mind link and space-time powers (due to the dyad)
Abilities
Lightsaber mastery
Form I: Ben is very skilled in Shii-Cho.
Form II: Ben is very skilled in Makashi.
Form III: Ben is very skilled in Soresu.
Form IV: Ben is very skilled in Ataru.
Form V: Ben is highly skilled in Shien/Djem So.
Form VI: Ben is highly skilled in Niman.
Form VII: Ben is highly skilled in Juyo/Vaapad.
Jar'Kai: Ben is highly skilled in Jar'Kai. In The Rise of Kylo Ren #4 comic book, Ben used Tai's lightsaber in conjunction with his own and used it to fatally stab the dark-side user "Ren".
Genius-level intelligence
Vast resources
Combat prowess
Expert martial artist
Master pilot
Vast knowledge of the dark and light sides of the Force
Leadership
Intimidation
Calligraphy
Mechanic skills
Possessions
Weapons and Equipment
Lightsabers
Ben's valued weapons and possessions are his blue and red-bladed lightsabers. So far, he has had two lightsabers.
First Lightsaber/Crossguard lightsaber
Skywalker Lightsaber
Blaster
DL-44 heavy blaster pistol
SE-14r light repeating blaster
Armor
Knights of Ren Armor: After reforming, Ben discarded his armor before the Battle of Exegol
Trivia
Ben has no spoken dialogue after his reformation, with the only exception being a brief "ow" after jumping onto a ledge on Exegol.
According to Chris Terrio, the gestures Ben Solo does that resembles Han Solo throughout The Rise of Skywalker (as the moment he points in the face of General Hux, when he fires a blaster over his shoulder without looking, and the shrug he gives the Knights of Ren) were Adam Driver's idea.
Kylo Ren was originally going to be one of the many characters in Ralph Breaks the Internet, but was cut when Lucasfilm took offense at how the movie depicted him as a "spoiled child".
Adam Driver pitched a sequel titled The Hunt for Ben Solo where itwas set after The Rise of Skywalker and was about Ben Solo's return and redemption. However, the script was rejected because they didn't know how Ben Solo could be alive.
Despite him aiming to be as strong as Darth Vader and Snoke claiming that they are different, Ben has more in common with his maternal grandfather than he thinks.
They both begin as Jedi Padawans who have a powerful and strong connection to the Force.
They are both expert pilots.
Both Anakin and Ben struggle with their powers, especially when it comes to the dark side of the Force.
They are corrupted by an evil Force user (Snoke and Darth Sidious), who recruit them when they are desperate and losing faith in their family/Jedi Order. (Ben was seduced by the dark side because of his struggling relationship with his parents and uncle, and Anakin due to losing faith in the Jedi Order and in hopes to save Padmé from dying).
They both adopt an alias, immediately discarding their birth names. (Anakin becoming Darth Vader and Ben becoming Kylo Ren), adopt a red-bladed Lightsaber and wear black masks, armor, and cape.
They develop some form of bond with the main protagonists (Rey and Luke) and hope to corrupt them with the dark side) and both Anakin and Ben offer them to rule the Galaxy together.
Ben and Anakin are redeemed through the love of their family and loved ones (Leia, Han and Rey; and Luke respectively).
They are also both in love with a strong, bold, and brown haired women, Rey and Padmé. However, while Ben's and Rey's relationship begins flawed and subsequently improves in the Sequel Trilogy, Padmé and Anakin's romance falls apart, given their romance was forbidden.
Ben succeeded in resurrecting the woman he loved, by sacrificing his life force to Rey so she could live. As Vader turned to the dark side to save Padmé's life but failed in doing so, by reviving Rey, Ben accomplished in finish something that his grandfather started even if it was in a way he didn't expect.
He was named after Obi-Wan Kenobi, as chosen by Han. In addition to this, the man saved Leia's life, acted like a father figure to Luke and Leia during their time together in his miniseries. He also shares his name with Ben Skywalker from the Legends.
