Star Wars Episode 9: Will Kylo Ren DIE? Is redemption the ONLY way he can survive?

Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren has been one of the big breakout talking points of the new movies: a complex villain with strong emotional ties to the protagonists (he’s Han and Leia’s son).

It’s standard fare in big-budget blockbusters for the baddies to ultimately either meet their demise or be somehow redeemed – so what fate awaits Kylo?

In a way, his biggest shot at redemption – a big ask anyway, considering the fact he killed his own father – came in Episode 8 when Rey (Daisy Ridley) tried to reach out to him.

His rejection of her attempts, and the pure vitriol he ended the movie with, hints that he is now beyond being brought back to the light.

So does this mean he has to die?

It’s a discussion that has been running rampant on a Star Wars subreddit, after a user asked others to give the three things they most want from Episode 9.

Fans seemed to favour the idea of Kylo surviving, but opinion is divided on what that would mean.

“I want Ren to survive but remain an antagonist,” one said.

“Sort of like in Avatar: TLA, how Azula and Ozai got their powers removed but they still weren’t redeemed in any way.”

But someone else pointed out: “Episode IX is the last movie in the Skywalker saga. It has to have a nice clean ending, which means no lingering villains by the end.”

Another user did suggest a clean conclusion that doesn’t end in death or redemption.

“His poor leadership of the first order causes Hux to gain command and Ren instead fall back using only his knights. I’d guess that [Hux] gets assassinated or something,” they wrote.

“Ren, I’d guess, in a moment of redemption would either destroy the First Order and Hux himself possibly by sacrifice?

“Maybe he self exiles himself after killing his own knights? I honestly can see a satisfying conclusion that doesn’t see Ben Solo be redeemed.”

We have a long time yet before we get any answers, with the movie only beginning production just last week.

Star Wars: Episode IX is due in December 2019.