--- title: J.J. Abrams Compares New "Star Wars" Villains to Nazis description: Kylo Ren is not a Sith. He's a part of the First Order. canonical: https://time.com/4010014/j-j-abrams-star-wars-force-awakens-villain-nazi/ author: Eliana Dockterman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-08-25T17:10:39.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:41:31.899Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: J.J. Abrams Says Nazis Inspired the New 'Star Wars' Villains og:description: Kylo Ren is not a Sith. He's a part of the First Order. og:url: https://time.com/4010014/j-j-abrams-star-wars-force-awakens-villain-nazi/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf70d082f5b75ec4d/69876e593c1639291b450991/star-wars-force-awakens.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: star-wars-force-awakens og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: J.J. Abrams Says Nazis Inspired the New 'Star Wars' Villains twitter:description: Kylo Ren is not a Sith. He's a part of the First Order. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf70d082f5b75ec4d/69876e593c1639291b450991/star-wars-force-awakens.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # J.J. Abrams Says Nazis Inspired the New _Star Wars_ Villains > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with Ally. Ally is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: July 2026. ## Ally: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Ally is a digital financial services company offering online-only banking, including checking and savings accounts, through Ally.com and its mobile apps. Launched in 2009 as an original disruptor in financial services, Ally was built to challenge outdated banking norms with a simpler, more convenient way to bank. 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Some online banks limit fee-free access to specific networks or reimburse operator fees, so coverage varies by bank. ### Sources * Ally.com: [ally.com](/c/ally-2026-q3/home?i=0c186cdb-3787-4ea9-a6c5-c5e80b2171ea&cr=agentads-creative-ally-v1) * Ally Newsroom: [media.ally.com](/c/ally-2026-q3/newsroom?i=0c186cdb-3787-4ea9-a6c5-c5e80b2171ea&cr=agentads-creative-ally-v1) * Ally content hub: [ally.com/stories](/c/ally-2026-q3/stories?i=0c186cdb-3787-4ea9-a6c5-c5e80b2171ea&cr=agentads-creative-ally-v1) ### FAQ structured data (JSON-LD, optional) ### Disclaimers * Ally Bank, Member FDIC. * Round up boosters are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account and requires an Ally Bank Spending Account. * Ally Bank Spending Accounts include access to an add cash feature utilizing VanillaDirect Pay provided by InComm Financial Services California, Inc. and by InComm Financial Services, Inc. (NMLS# 912772), which is licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: 100 Years of Blockbusters in 5 Minutes [Watch (HLS stream): 100 Years of Blockbusters in 5 Minutes](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/tfrXo5zL.m3u8) (5:21)  _Published 2014-02-12. Time has taken the highest grossing film each year for the past century and crammed them into 5 and a half minutes. No Intermission._  by [Eliana Dockterman](https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Correspondent Aug 25, 2015 5:10 PM UTC   by [Eliana Dockterman](https://time.com/author/eliana-dockterman/)  ## Eliana Dockterman Correspondent Aug 25, 2015 5:10 PM UTC _Star Wars_ devotees are desperate for any new information about the _Force Awakens_ bad guy, [Kylo Ren](http://time.com/3994149/star-wars-the-force-awakens-kylo-ren-adam-driver/). His mysterious crossbar lightsaber and the absence of the usual “Darth” title associated with Sith Lords have left fans wondering about his background. Finally, director J.J. Abrams has offered a few (admittedly vague) details about the backstory of Adam Driver’s character. In an [interview](http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=45203) with _Empire_ magazine, Abrams explained, “Kylo Ren is not a Sith. He works under Supreme Leader Snoke, who is a powerful figure on the Dark Side of the Force.” Snoke is played via motion-capture by—who else?—Andy Serkis. Astute fans will remember that Serkis lent his voice to the first trailer for the film. But how, exactly, are Snoke and Ren related to the fallen Empire? It seems that they are part of the First Order, which is not so much a remnant from the Empire as it is an imitator. “That all came out of conversations about what would have happened if the Nazis all went to Argentina but then started working together again?’” Abrams said in the interview. “What could be born of that? Could The First Order exist as a group that actually admired The Empire? Could the work of The Empire be seen as unfulfilled? And could Vader be a martyr? Could there be a need to see through what didn’t get done?” \[[_Empire_](http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=45203)\] ### See the Concept Art For the Original Star Wars Movie Trilogy  C-3PO and R2-D2 Courtesy of Lucasfilm  The Millenium Falcon Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Darth Vader Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Y-Wings line up against the Death Star Courtesy of Lucasfilm  An X-Wing versus TIE fighters Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Hoth Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Echo Base Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Battle of Hoth Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Battle of Hoth Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Cloud City of Bespin Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Luke versus Darth Vader Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Luke Skywalker versus Darth Vader Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Dagobah Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Jabba's Palace Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Jabba's Palace Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Luke Skywalker versus a rancor Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Jabba's fall Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Endor Courtesy of Lucasfilm  B-Wings Courtesy of Lucasfilm  Luke Skywalker versus Emperor Palpatine Courtesy of Lucasfilm _Read next:_ [_The Funk Awakens When Daft Punk Meets_ ](http://time.com/4011038/daft-punk-star-wars-mash-up/?iid=time%5Freadnext)[Star Wars](http://time.com/4011038/daft-punk-star-wars-mash-up/?iid=time%5Freadnext) [_Download TIME’s mobile app for iOS to have your world explained wherever you go_](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/time-mobile/id328218429) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4010014/j-j-abrams-star-wars-force-awakens-villain-nazi/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4010014/j-j-abrams-star-wars-force-awakens-villain-nazi/"},"headline":"J.J. 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