The distinctive crossguard on Kylo Ren's lightsaber, a key visual element in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, was directly inspired by the severed hands of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, according to Jet Cooper, the film's 3D Modelling Supervisor. Cooper shared this exclusive detail about the weapon's design process, explaining how historical sword design and character narrative converged to create the iconic weapon.
Cooper and director J.J. Abrams explored centuries of historical sword designs for inspiration, seeking a look that reflected Kylo Ren's crude yet knightly persona. The initial concept was a standard saber shape. However, a casual conversation about the recurring theme of hand loss among Jedi and Sith – specifically Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader – led to a pivotal design shift. "Everyone was losing their hands. Luke lost his hand. Vader lost his hand," Cooper recalled. "And the reason Europeans put quillons on swords was to stop that from happening."
This historical precedent for sword guards, known as quillons, directly informed the addition of the crossguard. The design team then adapted this concept to the lightsaber, diverting the main beam to the sides to create the signature emitters. Cooper noted that this element also echoed the utilitarian aspect of European broadswords, which could be used defensively or offensively, a characteristic that Abrams highlighted by having Kylo Ren use the crossguard to pin an opponent against a tree.
Beyond its practical and historical roots, the crossguard also served a crucial storytelling purpose. The flared ends were intentionally designed to ensure that the lightsaber's silhouette would be instantly recognizable, even to a young viewer. This design choice aimed to make the weapon as iconic and distinct as the character wielding it.
Cooper, who has worked on numerous blockbuster films, cited Kylo Ren's lightsaber as one of his most cherished creations. He and Abrams refined the design through thirteen iterations before settling on the final version. His passion for prop making, he revealed, traces back to his childhood experience watching the original Star Wars, which ignited his desire to work in filmmaking.