Adam Driver rose to Disney stardom after playing the villain in Lucasfilm’s Star Wars sequels. The actor has had a great career over the years. However, he recently made a sly remark about Disney’s perceived “wokeness” while hosting Saturday Night Live (SNL) on December 9.
Adam Driver in Disney Star Wars Sequels
Adam Driver portrayed Kylo Ren in Disney’s Star Wars sequel trilogy, consisting of The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
In a significant and divisive scene, Kylo Ren was responsible for the death of the iconic character Han Solo (Harrison Ford) in The Force Awakens. This decision, made by Disney, stirred mixed reactions among fans.
Han Solo’s demise was particularly impactful due to fans’ deep emotional attachment to this beloved character from the original trilogy. The move not only altered the dynamic of the original trio but also left some fans uncertain about their connection to Kylo Ren’s character, especially given his relatively recent introduction to the Star Wars saga.
The decision to depart from the hope of a joyous reunion for the original characters, driven by Disney’s creative choices, contributed to the varied responses within the Star Wars community.
While Adam Driver has undeniably enjoyed a standout and successful career, particularly with acclaimed performances in several major films, his legacy within the Star Wars franchise has followed him. Despite his versatile roles and critical acclaim, Driver remains inseparable from the character Kylo Ren, forever known as the “man who killed Han Solo.”
Adam Driver Hosts SNL
Adam Driver recently hosted Saturday Night Live for the fourth time in his career. In his show monologue on December 9, Driver sat at a piano and listed off what he wanted from Santa Claus for Christmas this year.
One of his requests was an obvious jab at Disney and its reputation for going “woke,” which was made prominent by its harshest conservative critics.
I’d like people to stop coming up to me on the street saying, “you killed Han Solo.” I didn’t kill Han Solo. “Wokeness” killed Han solo.
Driver’s “Woke” Disney Joke
However, upon listening to the entire monologue, it is painfully obvious that Driver is being satirical. He makes other remarks during the bit that make fun of other stereotypical or popular current events and trends.
Disney’s decision to kill off Han Solo wasn’t the only thing that divided fans with its sequel trilogy. The Last Jedi was labeled the movie that killed the Star Wars franchise for many people. Furthermore, The Rise of Skywalker failed to save the trilogy, disappointing many fans and critics.
Disney has continued to struggle to recapture the magic of Star Wars under its ownership. It recently had a small success with its Disney+ Ahsoka series, and Dave Filoni has been made chief creative officer for Lucasfilm going forward.
While Driver was joking, do you think his remark has some truth? Did Disney’s creative decisions and perceived “wokeness” kill the Star Wars franchise? Let us know in the comments.
