STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI's Andy Serkis Talks Supreme Leader Snoke's Lack Of Backstory And Characterisation

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI's Andy Serkis Talks Supreme Leader Snoke's Lack Of Backstory And Characterisation

In an recent interview with EW, Andy Serkis, who played the villainous Snoke in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, revealed that there was in-fact discussion between him and his directors about Snoke's backstory...

By Nebula - Mar 07, 2018 12:03 AM EST
Filed Under: Star Wars
Source: Entertainment Weekly
One of the major points of contention in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, a movie already fraught with fandom-based controversy, was the fate of Andy Serkis' CG character Supreme Leader Snoke. One of the main reasons for the strife was Snoke's complete lack of backstory, many fans believing the story to be simply incomplete without it.

This subject, amongst many others relating to the character, was what Entertainment Weekly discussed with Serkis in a recent interview. He mentioned how he and his directors had sat down and discussed Snoke's history, and how leaving his backstory vague is the best way to facilitate future stories. Here's the full quote:

We wanted him to have a great deal of mystery, but we did … J.J. [Abrams] and I discussed it, and Rian [Johnson] and I did discuss backstories to him, where he came from. I’ve been asked to not shed anything, should we want to bring him back in any way whether [in a] prequel or whatever. I think there’s something cool about that. It still does remain a mystery for people. I know that some people find it incredibly frustrating, but I think it allows for further exploration and layering at a further point.

And by answering the question of whether he sees Snoke returning to the franchise he also clarifies his first statement, which you might say seems like a backpedal:

Yeah, I would love to think that there is room for him to come back. I think anything’s possible in a Star Wars movie. I’d be all up for it. I think there’s a lot more to be had from the character for sure, but I’m not in discussions with anybody at all about it.

While keeping anything significant about Snoke's backstory close to his chest, Serkis did however shed some light on the powerful baddie's characterisation in general:

I played him as incredibly threatened by this female, which he’s not used to or doesn’t understand. He completely underestimates Rey, obviously, but he can sense that there’s a strength there that certainly Kylo Ren doesn’t have. I would say he’s pretty misogynistic in that respect. Interestingly. For our time.

What do you think about the way Serkis portrayed Snoke in Star Wars: The Last Jedi? How do you feel about how vague/non-existent Snoke's backstory is?

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MarvelousMarty
MarvelousMarty - 3/7/2018, 12:09 AM
My frustration still runs high. Just hope Ep9 makes it all better.
GeneralZod
GeneralZod - 3/7/2018, 2:51 AM
@MarvelousMarty - and the Han Solo flick should help us in our rehabilitation process.
Nebula
Nebula - 3/7/2018, 2:55 AM
@GeneralZod -
dainaron
dainaron - 3/7/2018, 2:57 AM
@GeneralZod - The Solo film is going to be a massive disaster.
dracula
dracula - 3/7/2018, 3:26 AM
@MarvelousMarty - It probably will be better, but not as good as it could have been if JJ Abrams had just done all 3 movies since, he had planned out 3 films, but Rian Johnson ignored those plans and did his own thing, so now he probably has to come up with something new for episode 9. There is also Carrie Fisher's death, since Episode 7 focused on Han, Episode 8 focused on Luke, its obvious Episode 9 was going to focus on Leia, but now they have to change even more things.
boiling
boiling - 3/7/2018, 4:00 AM
@dainaron - Wow cool! Could you please hand me the lottery numbers for next weekend?
SmashZapper85
SmashZapper85 - 3/7/2018, 5:24 AM
@dracula - Didn't J.J say he didn't have plans for who Rey's parents were. You are aware of his Mystery Box technique right?
"I started to think that maybe there are times when mystery is more important than knowledge." - JJ Abrams
pintoman
pintoman - 3/7/2018, 7:01 AM
@MarvelousMarty - or, we could move on from the franchise.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 3/7/2018, 7:23 AM
To clarify, Andy Serkis' comments on Snoke are just an extension of the dismissive nature of all those involved in the movie - where any valid criticism is warped to be 'sexist' or 'misogynistic'

In this scenario he dismisses the lack of character development for 'set-up' for potential future films including sequels or prequels - while going on to claim the character is misogynistic despite this never being portrayed on-screen.

Everyone involved with this movie is trying to use the 'Ghostbusters' excuse, claiming those who hated it are 'sexist' or dislike women or are misogynist, trying to desperately save a franchise that was run into the ground.

The worst aspect of all this is that people think they are going to try to course correct with episode 9. Disney and those involved have made it incredibly clear that they have no intention of doing so and it's almost certain at this point that Han Solo and Episode 9 will continue to use the 'Strong Women', 'Sexist' and 'Misogynistic' excuse in the same way Episode 7, Rogue One and Episode 8 did before.
Buckster10
Buckster10 - 3/7/2018, 9:36 AM
@Scarilian - Very well put.
dracula
dracula - 3/7/2018, 11:15 AM
@SmashZapper85 - I know i read somewhere he had planned out the trilogy, but maybe he didnt decide who her parents would be,
Darkknight2149
Darkknight2149 - 3/7/2018, 12:52 PM
@Scarilian -
Even Rian Johnson admitted that he just dismissed whatever elements he didn't give a shit about, basically kicking the can to whoever decides to pick it up. We're now two films into a trilogy and we haven't even so much as seen the Knights of Ren, let alone know who Snoke is. Even the explanation for Rey's parentage is up in the air after fan backlash.
BloodyBed
BloodyBed - 3/7/2018, 8:14 PM
@Darkknight2149 - and I don’t give a shit about any of that. The knights of ren could never show up again, whatever. Why does it matter.

Just give me a good movie.
Darkknight2149
Darkknight2149 - 3/7/2018, 8:50 PM
@BloodyBed -
And how does dropping established characters / plotlines on a whim, and otherwise sloppy storytelling equate to a good movie?
Darkknight2149
Darkknight2149 - 3/7/2018, 9:04 PM
@BloodyBed -
What I was getting at is that, with The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson basically took whatever loose ends he didn't give a shit about from The Force Awakens (such as vital information and characters to the current trilogy) and pretty much decided kick the can to whoever decides to pick it up in Episode IX or whatever tie-in novels/comics/whatever come out.

We're two films into a three film trilogy that Disney is clearly making up on the fly, and after wasting two of the films messing around (The Force Awakens retreaded A New Hope while opening several vague plotlines, while The Last Jedi chose to dismiss or delay most of them), Episode IX now has to do all of the heavy-lifting for the entire trilogy.
Darkknight2149
Darkknight2149 - 3/7/2018, 9:05 PM
What I was getting at is that, with The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson basically took whatever loose ends he didn't give a shit about from The Force Awakens (such as vital information and characters to the current trilogy) and pretty much decided kick the can to whoever decides to pick it up in Episode IX or whatever tie-in novels/comics/whatever come out.

We're two films into a three film trilogy that Disney is clearly making up on the fly, and after wasting two of the films messing around (The Force Awakens retreaded A New Hope while opening several vague plotlines, while The Last Jedi chose to dismiss or delay most of them), Episode IX now has to do all of the heavy-lifting for the entire trilogy.
noahthegrand
noahthegrand - 3/7/2018, 12:17 AM
I understand what they were trying to do with him and am okay with that.
NOVAtheSUPA
NOVAtheSUPA - 3/7/2018, 12:19 AM
@noahthegrand - they did nothing with him...
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