Adam Driver Refused To Spend Time With Mark Hamill In Preparation For His Role In ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’
Adam Driver, who plays Kylo Ren in the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi film, refused to spend time with Mark Hamill when the cameras weren’t rolling, according to Hamill himself. Hamill, of course, portrays the original protagonist of the Star Wars films, Luke Skywalker. Driver, on the other hand, plays Luke’s estranged nephew and former student, Ben Solo, who at one point turned to the dark side and adopted the name Kylo Ren.
Apparently, Driver opted against hanging out with his co-star in order to maintain the intensity and hostility of his character. Needless to say, the relationship between Kylo Ren and Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be more than just strained. Not only did Ren betray his former Jedi master, he also massacred his fellow Jedi students with the intention of ending his uncle’s attempt at restoring the fallen Jedi Order.
In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Ren even killed his own father and Luke’s old friend, Han Solo. As such, Driver’s method acting approach to the role of Kylo Ren makes sense, but it also shows just how committed the actor is to his craft. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Hamill revealed that he asked Driver out to lunch, but was ultimately rejected.
“I remember saying to Adam, ‘I don’t know how you work, or your technique. But, at some point, you were my nephew. I probably bounced you on my knee. I probably babysat for you. There’s that side, and now we’re both estranged from the Skywalker family. All I’m suggesting is, if you’d like, maybe we could go to lunch, we could get together and hang out.'”
While Hamill seemed to believe that spending time with his co-star would help the two actors bond over their roles in The Last Jedi, Driver felt the need to keep to himself. In the interview with Vanity Fair, Driver claimed that Kylo Ren’s emotional seclusion, which the actor believes is central to his character, was something he personally relates to. Hamill didn’t take Driver’s refusal personally, though, and even praised the actor’s dedication to his acting method.
Furthermore, he described Driver’s on-set presence as “very moody and intense,” something their co-stars, John Boyega and Daisy Ridley, can attest to. Unlike Driver, the two British actors did not isolate themselves from the cast and crew but instead joined forces to lift the spirits at the set of The Last Jedi. Boyega even claimed to have randomly given out hugs to Driver in an effort to lighten up his mood. However, Driver refused to give in and showed little to no emotion.
“[Adam Driver] just stands there. He just waits for me to be done,” said Boyega.
Driver isn’t the only actor who uses method acting, though. In recent times, many stars have garnered media attention for their obsessive commitment to their roles. Jared Leto, for instance, remained in character for his role as the Joker in Suicide Squad, even when he wasn’t on camera. Leto’s acting method played a major role in the promotion of the film, although the Joker barely had any screentime in the final version of Suicide Squad. Perhaps, Daniel Day-Lewis is most commonly associated with the method acting approach in Hollywood, though.
Ultimately, Star Wars fans will have to wait to find out whether Adam Driver’s dedication to his craft will have paid off in Episode 8.
While not much is currently known about the story of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the relationship between Luke Skywalker and Kylo Ren will surely play a significant part in the film. How will the Jedi master react to the murder of his beloved friend, Han Solo? Who is the last Jedi, and will Kylo Ren and his uncle face off on-screen? All of these questions will hopefully be answered when Star Wars: The Last Jedi is released on December 15. In the meantime, let’s take another look at the official teaser of the much anticipated Star Wars film.
[Featured Image by Victoria Will/AP Images]
