The Last Jedi trailer is almost here.
Star Wars fans were treated to an avalanche of merchandise on Force Friday 2 last month but soon noticed that there was no sign of one eagerly-awaited set of characters.
Where the Force were the Knights of Ren?
After a tantalising appearance in Rey’s Episode 7 Forceback vision and a passing mention from Snoke, they have been completely absent from all artwork and have never featured in any of the spin-off books and comicbooks that have proliferated around The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi over the last twelve months.
A new leak suggests a secret identity that will shock, and likely confuse and frustrate, fans.
Youtube channel Star Wars Theory rarely cites leaks or spoilers but believes that the latest information about the Knights of Ren has substance.
It says: “The Knights of Ren are a group of diehard fan boys, almost a cult, who have been looking for Snoke. Now they have found him, they will do anything for him.
“Snoke’s new Praetorian Guards are the Knights of Ren.”
What? It makes sense, though, considering we saw six or seven Knights in the vision, the same number as the Praetorians and both groups have a uniform look but each member is slightly differently clothed and armed.
Star Wars Theory also quotes the source who adds: “They vow to serve Snoke and protect him as he regenerates. Willing to give their lives at opportune moments to give Snoke power in battle.”
This ties in with many claims that Snoke is some kind of ancient being who can drain the life force from those around him to sustain and augment his own.
Unfortunately this reduces the Knights, now Praetorians, to effectively a zombie-like state.
Star Wars Theory adds: “The Knights of Ren don’t talk. They have little life in them. Just a slight presence in one small shard of the person that was once there before.
His source says: “In a fight Kylo Ren can control them, like a lightsaber or maybe gloves… Each one has something that glows on them, like the rings on the mace. Each one is unique.
“They’re not drones… But they’re an extension of Kylo. It’s very hard to explain.“
But how likely is this to be true?
The whole premise is undeniably intriguing and helps explain the total absence of the Knights from recent marketing. However, the dual links to Snoke and Kylo Ren seem rather complicated and impractical.
Snoke knows that Kylo Ren has not completely mastered the Dark Side of the Force, so why would he allow his apprentice to control such powerful warriors, especially when he is also dependent on them for their life sources?