Kylo Ren a.k.a Ben Solo, as played by actor Adam Driver, is the most complex, interesting, and compelling character of the new Star Wars trilogy. His journey from tormented and emotional villain to conflicted and reluctant hero in the new set of films made his character the most appealing out of everyone. While he apparently dies at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, death in a galaxy far, far away is not always certain. Kylo Ren's return and subsequent journey post-The Rise of Skywalker has the most potential to expand the Skywalker saga (and the future of Star Wars mythos) in a new and fascinating way. This makes him the perfect character to develop in the future of the franchise.
The son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ben Solo was sent to train as a Jedi with Luke Skywalker early in his childhood. He showed immense power and natural ability with The Force, as is common in his family. In The Last Jedi, it's shown that Luke sensed a great darkness in Ben during his training. When going to confront him about it, Luke has a vision of Ben bringing death and destruction to the galaxy and shamefully thinks of killing him. However, Ben reacts before Luke can do anything, burning down the temple and killing many of his fellow Jedi peers. From there, Ben becomes Kylo Ren, a disciple and leader in Supreme Leader Snoke's new Empire, The First Order, helping to destroy their enemies, planet-by-planet, in order to rule the galaxy. However, it's shown that Kylo Ren is reluctant to fall to the dark side, allured by the legacy of his grandfather, Darth Vader, but still imbued with the teachings of the light side from Luke, Leia, and his father, Han.
The depth of Kylo Ren goes all the way back to Anakin Skywalker, as he's the final culmination of that bloodline, despite Rey taking on the name. His continuation would create a journey of repentance, repercussion, and redemption, the likes of which have not been seen in the live-action Star Wars universe for a long time. Over the course of the saga, Kylo Ren both kills his father and uncovers a connection to Rey, who shares similar Force powers as the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine and is a driving force in his pull to the light. It's this constant tension between good and evil that ultimately makes him such a compelling character. His final turn to the light and sacrifice at the end of The Rise of Skywalker proved that he could not only find redemption, but perhaps peace as well. However, that version of peace in the movie was through death, which cuts short a long road of storytelling that could explore Ben Solo's redemption throughout the galaxy, atoning for the sins of his past. Given the emotional as well as narrative possibilities of such a story arc, it makes sense for Kylo Ren to be the focus for future Star Wars movies.
Kylo Ren Had The Most Complex Journey In The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
Kylo Ren began his arc in the new trilogy, The Force Awakens, as the main villain of the franchise, but it became evident early on that he was far more complex than a lightsaber-wielding psychopath with Force powers. The son of two rebel heroes and the nephew of the last remaining Jedi, Kylo Ren had massive shoes to fill, as well as a conflicted bloodline to contend with. He was young and impressionable, but also cunning, deceptive, dangerous, and challenged by his own identity, torn between two worlds that equally wanted a piece of him. Throughout the series, Kylo Ren teetered back-and-forth between good and evil, never making a clear distinction between the two in his struggle until the very end. His relationships with Rey, Luke, Han, Leia, Snoke, and The Emperor were far more complicated than any other characters in the new trilogy, making his journey the most compelling to watch unfold above all others.
Kylo Ren's Actions Mean Ben Solo Has A Lot To Atone For In Star Wars
While Kylo Ren may have struggled between the light and dark side, he succumbed frequently to the dark, leading to the deaths of innocents far too often. In many instances, he committed cold-blooded murder, including that of his own father, while in others it was from the distance of world-destroying weapons. By his very alignment with The First Order, Kylo Ren is implicit in the murder of billions of lives across the galaxy. His destructive nature and willingness to see The First Order's objectives completed to the letter left a wake of death, chaos, and pain in his wake. Dying at the end of The Rise of Skywalker let him off easy from his crimes against the galaxy. Kylo Ren facing the galaxy he left in shambles and having to atone for what he's done is the single greatest journey that a character like him could face and an enthralling way forward for the new generation of Star Wars characters.
Kylo and Rey: What Happens when the two Skywalkers meet again?
Beyond Kylo Ren's journey of atonement and redemption, the relationship between him and Rey, romantic or otherwise, leaves much to be explored. The two most powerful Force-trained people known to the galaxy, a deeper exploration of what they could become post-The Rise of Skywalker is something that would provide a wealth of dramatic tension. Rey knowing that Ben Solo is alive would force her character to react in ways that may not be so predictable. As a character meant to be the lead, Rey's suffering and conflict never measured up to Kylo Ren's, but having them face-to-face in a newly-altered galaxy is a much better place to explore their journey together (or at odds) and unfold who they will ultimately become. Kylo Ren and Rey hold the keys to the future of The Force, be it as Jedi, Sith, or something else altogether.
Kylo’s Jedi Redemption Is The Best Way Forward For Star Wars
How Kylo Ren survives his death would not be a complicated thing to pull off. Numerous characters have been revived in the Star Wars universe, so it would be simple enough to revive him. However, his journey upon resurrection is where things would get interesting. Likely, Kylo Ren would assume a new identity altogether, as the names Kylo Ren and Ben Solo would attract all the wrong kind of attention. Having him begin his journey in a monk-like state, attempting to do good where he can, much like a wandering samurai, atoning for the transgressions of his past, provides a far more convoluted and engrossing path that would be long, arduous, painful, violent and potentially heroic. Kylo Ren would have far more enemies than friends at that point and the opportunities to put him in situations that would challenge, rebuild, and redeem him are endless. Encountering his former First Order comrades, as well as rebels from the other side would provide a dramatic narrative that would enhance and grow Kylo Ren into a new identity altogether, as he attempts to restore some modicum of peace in the galaxy he helped destroy, making amends for the horrors he has caused.
A future for new Star Wars trilogy characters is through Kylo Ren
The relationship between Kylo Ren and Rey isn't the only launching point for the future of Star Wars. Rey is a key figure in the new trilogy, but there are others that can be worked in as a result, including Poe Dameron, Finn, and maybe a droid or two. All of these characters are uniquely connected and Kylo Ren's return gives them a reason to get back together, possibly as teammates, possibly as enemies (or both). Kylo Ren had an early connection to Finn's Force abilities that was never explored after The Force Awakens and Rey had a teased mutual attraction to Poe, which could open the doors for a number of different story lines. While there are multiple prequel films/TV shows in the works, no mention has been made of where the new trilogy of characters fit into the future of Star Wars. The path to that future is through Kylo Ren, as he's the most fascinating and layered character of the bunch with a defining history that paves the way for the next generation, laying a foundation that pulls everyone together to create storytelling opportunities in a galaxy far, far away for decades to come.