--- title: JJ Abrams on Han Solo, Kylo Ren Scene in The Force Awakens description: JJ Abrams opens up about Star Wars: The Force Awakens. canonical: https://time.com/4534837/j-j-abrams-on-han-solo-death/ author: Melissa Locker article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-10-18T15:12:32.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-19T07:48:02.130Z og:title: J. J. Abrams on That Han Solo Scene in The Force Awakens og:description: Is there hope for Kylo Ren? og:url: https://time.com/4534837/j-j-abrams-on-han-solo-death/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb608edb96bc7d186/6988aa72cd1bba27b6702bf4/gettyimages-501587228.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4944 og:image:height: 2781 og:image:alt: "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" - European Film Premiere - Red Carpet Arrivals og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: J. J. Abrams on That Han Solo Scene in The Force Awakens twitter:description: Is there hope for Kylo Ren? twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb608edb96bc7d186/6988aa72cd1bba27b6702bf4/gettyimages-501587228.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # J. J. Abrams Finally Explains That Han Solo Kylo Ren Scene in _The Force Awakens_ > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=3972800f-42c5-4c38-a7e7-1ca67bd76e94&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Star Wars Behind the Scenes: On Set With BB-8 [Watch (HLS stream): Star Wars Behind the Scenes: On Set With BB-8](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/5izeYaFu.m3u8) (0:31)  _Published 2015-12-03. On Set With BB-8_ by [Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker Oct 18, 2016 3:12 PM UTC  LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: Kylo Ren attends the European Premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" at Leicester Square on December 16, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 16: Kylo Ren attends the European Premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" at Leicester Square on December 16, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) Chris Jackson-Getty Images by [Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/) ## Melissa Locker Oct 18, 2016 3:12 PM UTC There’s one scene in [_Star Wars: The Force Awakens_](http://time.com/4110315/star-wars-time-magazine-cover/?iid=sr-link10) that made audiences from Orlando to Osaka gasp and scream. If you’ve seen the movie, you know the scene. If you haven’t seen the movie, remedy that situation and then come back read this article. You’ve been warned. When Harrison Ford’s Han Solo tries to save his son Ben a.k.a. Kylo Ren, ([Adam Driver,](http://time.com/4378997/adam-driver-star-wars-marine-ted-talk/?iid=sr-link1)) it doesn’t end well. In the painful scene, Ren ends up committing patricide via light saber and Han Solo became one of the [91 characters who died in _Star Wars_.](http://time.com/4112165/every-star-wars-death/?iid=sr-link2) It was a heartbreaking and audience members left the theater searching for answers and turning to director J.J. Abrams with their lingering questions. Was Ren simply toying with his father’s emotions and actually planned to kill him from the moment he laid eyes on him? In a [_USA Today_](http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/10/17/jj-abrams-star-wars-the-force-awakens-exclusive-commentary/92299234/) clip from the forthcoming 3D collector’s edition of _The Force Awakens_, Abrams finally answers that question. --- > “” --- Abrams apparently tried to warn the audience with some visual clues to prepare them for the outcome of the meeting between father and son. --- > “” --- Remember that when [_Star Wars_](http://time.com/4284989/rogue-one-trailer-what-we-learned/?iid=sr-link1)_: Episode VIII_ hits theaters in December 2017. Watch below. ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] [ NOISE ] [ SOUND ] [ MUSIC ] [ BLANK_AUDIO ] [ SOUND ] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4534837/j-j-abrams-on-han-solo-death/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4534837/j-j-abrams-on-han-solo-death/"},"headline":"J. J. 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