Whatever your theories are about Kylo Ren -- and there are many! -- know this about the lightsaber-wielding villain of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens": He's not a Sith.

Director J.J. Abrams confirms that much to Empire. leaving us to dwell on all the other mysteries surrounding the hooded character. (Is he a Solo? What are the Knights of Ren? Doesn't he risk cutting off his own hand?) "He works under Supreme Leader Snoke," the filmmaker says, referring to the role played by Andy Serkis, "who is a powerful figure on the Dark Side of the Force.”

However, the filmmaker is a bit more forthcoming about the inspiration for the First Order, the organization that rises from the ashes of the Galactic Empire.

"That all came out of conversations about what would have happened if the Nazis all went to Argentina but then started working together again," Abrams says. “What could be born of that? Could The First Order exist as a group that actually admired The Empire? Could the work of The Empire be seen as unfulfilled? And could Vader be a martyr? Could there be a need to see through what didn’t get done?”

Opening Dec. 18, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" also stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Max von Sydow, Lupita Nyong’o and Gwendoline Christie.