Kylo Ren’s original look for Star Wars was much closer to Darth Vader

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

We are now just over a month out from the epic conclusion to the nine film Skywalker saga, as director J.J. Abrams' STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER is set to debut December 20. The film will mark the third and final (?) time we see Adam Driver's Kylo Ren on the big screen. Although THE FORCE AWAKENS showcased a character fanatically devoted to his grandfather, going so far as to don a mask like his Sith relative, Ren famously destroyed his mask in Rian Johnson's THE LAST JEDI. However, the trailers for THE RISE OF SKYWALKER indicate that Ren has since repaired that self-same mask. While the design of Kylo Ren's mask is distinct, the original design was much closer to that of Darth Vader.

Recently, Lucasfilm concept designer Christian Alzmann took to Instagram and posted some early concept ideas for Kylo Ren's mask and helmet. Check it out:

As you can see Kylo Ren's mask comes off like Darth Vader Lite. There's a breathing mask apparatus and a dome on the helmet that slides over the ears. Personally, I'm glad they went in another direction because A) Kylo Ren didn't take a dip in a Mustafar lake so why would he need a breathing apparatus and B) the design we got was sleek, stylish, and badass in my opinion.

What do you guys think of these designs? Do you like them? Are you satisfied with the direction the design team went with? Sound off in the comments below.

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER drops out of lightspeed to land in theaters December 20.