Adam Driver had an overwhelming experience at his first San Diego Comic-Con and he said he's "not anxious" to go back because of it.
Driver, who played Kylo Ren in Star Warsepisodes 7-9, recalled his first and only time at Comic-Con when he was on The Graham Norton Show to promote his next movie, House of Gucci.
He told Norton what happened when he got to his hotel.
"I didn't know the rules of Comic-Con."
"I got in at the hotel at two in the morning."
"And I'm like, 'Maybe tomorrow I'll go get a coffee.' And they're like, 'Oh no, you can't get a coffee.'"
"I'm like, 'Well, maybe I'll get a coffee in the hotel.' They're like, 'No, you can't get a coffee in the hotel.'"
Driver didn't realize thousands of people were camped outside his hotel in celebration of the release of the new Star Wars film.
They said Driver would have to disguise himself:
"They said, 'We have some masks in a bag if you wanna put some masks on.'"
"They had some options of an Ironman mask or a Darth Vader mask.."
Driver said, amongst the 2,000 people who were "very devoted" to the franchise, was a band playing the Star Wars theme song on repeat.
"I opened my window because I'd been in the room for 24 hours before this thing we were supposed to do."
"And then there was a band at the bottom of the building playing the 'Star Wars' theme on repeat because we [the cast] were all staying in the hotel. It was scary."
"It's just a lot of energy, as you can imagine."
That was his first and last time attending Comic-Con, but despite saying it was "nice," he didn't sound confident he would return.
"I'd... I'm not anxious to go again."
People are not surprised he was overwhelmed by the intensity of Star Wars fans.
That makes sense, though he could also make a lot of money - six figures, easily - like other celebrities do if he did decide to sign on as a three-day weekend convention guest. That being said, it can get overwhelming at times, even as a visiting fan.https://t.co/IXZtO9Ppy0
— Amber C. Goldsmith (she/they, autistic) 🔞 (@acagoldsmith) November 12, 2021
Large conventions are a nightmare for me, as someone with anxiety.
— Bluelineblues 🧜🏻 (@bluelineblues1) November 12, 2021
It's not about actors. It's about characters. And it's nuts.
— Montana Rafferty Moss (@MasterofMe53) November 13, 2021
And THAT'S why he's never coming back to SW or any other franchise IP.
— Joreen Belocura (@AgeofIrony) November 12, 2021
I mean, speaking as a fellow introvert, Comic Con is a lot and I didn't even go. I was just riding the LIRR into the city on the same day.
— Liz | Sympathy for the dark abyss (@landwarsinasia) November 13, 2021
And that's why I doubt AD will do anything #StarWars related, in any medium, ever again.
— 🦋 Kylo Ren Radio 💗💜💙🏳️🌈 (@KyloRenRadio) November 12, 2021
I'm an introvert but I liked Comic Con a lot coz I got to meet like-minded people whom I only got to know online at first. Many became good friends. But as a celeb, it can be too much/ unsafe > it's MANY to ONE. Still glad he met fans and did signings after Burn This tho!
— Island Diva 🏝️ (@syzzlyn) November 13, 2021
Idk, I made the mistake of going to a comic con once in costume. People would come right up to me and try to touch me without asking, I can only imagine it was a thousand times worst as a known celebrity.
— Slug at the End of the Universe (@VekaFitzfrancis) November 13, 2021
I've been. He's right.
— Matt Kibbe (@mkibbe) November 13, 2021
Only time will tell if Driver will return to a Comic-Con in the future, but it doesn't seem likely.
Jane Rosenberg
Jane Rosenberg
@arianagrande/Instagram
@arianagrande/Instagram