Adam Driver, who portrayed Kylo Ren in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, revealed on The Rich Elsen Show that his character's redemption arc was not originally planned. This information has surfaced via Collider, creating a new perspective on the character's journey. Initially, Kylo Ren, first introduced in "Star Wars: Episode 7 - The Force Awakens," was meant to progressively become more evil, a stark contrast to Darth Vader’s trajectory. Driver mentioned that, according to earlier plans by likely director J.J. Abrams, Kylo Ren was supposed to start off confused and end as a staunch advocate for the Dark Side by the end of the trilogy.

The Sequel Trilogy welcomed back Original Trilogy legends Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill, alongside fresh faces like Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac. However, reception among fans soured with the release of "Episode 8 - The Last Jedi," and further with "Episode 9 - The Rise of Skywalker." Critics and fans alike expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of cohesive planning evident in the storyline shifts between movies. Some of these shifts came after the unfortunate passing of Carrie Fisher, who had a pivotal role in the story, but other plot aspects, like the teased but unexplored notion of Finn being Force-sensitive, led to fan frustration. Driver's recent comments add to the notion that the trilogy suffered from inconsistent planning.

Did the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy have a concrete plan for its characters from the start?

No, as indicated by Adam Driver's comments, the character development, especially Kylo Ren's arc, was subject to change and not originally designed to lead to redemption.