Supreme Leader Snoke was arguably the most mysterious part of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The true identity of the enigmatic villain has spawned countless fan theories, rivaled only by the who's your daddy question surrounding Rey. In the lead-up to Star Wars: The Last Jedi, we have received a much better look at Snoke, and this time, not via a hologram. It turns out he's not actually fifty feet tall, and he overcompensates for his age, lack of hair and unwillingness to moisturize by wearing an audacious bathrobe wherever he goes. If Snoke strikes you as a Force-wielding Hugh Hefner from a galaxy far far away, this is no accident. The man behind the menace, actor Andy Serkis, made it clear that this is the look they were going for. Serkis said:
Me and [writer-director Rian Johnson] sat down, and we said, 'Who of everyone --- there are so many different dictators you could emulate, there are so many different people out there'... but the gold-lamé Hugh Hefner look was definitely the way we wanted to go.
While I don't know if Hugh Hefner could be classified as a dictator, he definitely had a very distinct and unique look. If, as Andy Serkis told Yahoo, this was the look they wanted for Snoke, that has to be because it works and fits in with who the character is. We don't know anything about Snoke yet other than he's the bad guy who corrupted Ben Solo. So as we get to know him, we may learn this look is a reflection of his personality. The gold lamé robe is also reminiscent of royalty and may speak to how powerful and comfortable Snoke feels in his position and visibility. Walking around in a robe is a pretty boss move that reflects a carefree and relaxed position. That's why Hef wore a robe after all. Plus, if you're the scariest and most powerful dude around, nobody is really going to have the nerve to criticize what you wear.
The Hugh Hefner look is also a strong contrast to Emperor Palpatine, whose Sith attire reflected how he worked in the shadows. We have heard that Snoke is not a Sith, so this aesthetic is another way to visually differentiate him from the villains that came before. All big bads should have a distinct look meant to command fear and respect. This Hugh Hefner vibe, though, will require Snoke to be extra scary and imposing because at first glance, he's just a scarred, ugly old dude in a bathrobe. In addition to Hugh Hefner, Supreme Leader Snoke also took a cue from Liberace when choosing the robe's color, and he's not the first to favor gold for his villainous attire. Ming the Merciless from Flash Gordon and Skeletor from Masters of the Universe also went with gold while cruelly ruling over others. If that's not good company, I don't know what is.
Hugh Hefner passed away a few months ago, but the iconic Playboy founder will now live on in a way he never expected. To see if Supreme Leader Snoke lights up a pipe with a blonde under each arm, check out Star Wars: The Last Jedi, in theaters December 15. You can pre-order your tickets for opening weekend now.
