ST Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke) in Episode VII

Oh, I think I know who they based him on:

 

Oh JKW... You make me smile.

 

really? think first man.

 

I don't think he's that similar at all. Similar in that he's deformed but it's a different species entirely.

 

I think with his height, physique and white robes (if he keeps them) he'll look significantly different to Palpatine. The face alone does imply he's suffered from a similar attack or corruption but that might not be a bad thing story wise.

 

Just did some reading up on him. Very interesting. Though non-canon EU now. From Wookieepedia - Adept at divination, Cronal was recruited by Emperor Palpatine from the Prophets to join the Empire. He abandoned himself to his meditations in the dark side, becoming withdrawn, physically frail, and paranoid. Considered Palpatine's "monster-maker," Cronal was responsible for the creation of several Sithspawn and other devices of Sith alchemy.

 

Enjoy it while it lasts.

 

Perhaps Umbaran? He is pale, bald, apparently has very light eyes...

 

Well it's the truth. Looks like a zombie version of him. And that dude is like 7 feet tall.

 

Hmmmmmm. Maybe.

 

Also, Cronal was responsible for these guys:



Who are back in canon. Other parts of the description are interesting:

Lord Cronal was cunning and one of Palpatine's most powerful dark side mages. But Cronal's heavy immersion in the dark side of the Force took a toll on him. Physically, the dark side ate away at Cronal, making him frail, shrunken, and dependent upon his life-support chamber. Cronal suffered mentally, too, with every vision and use of the dark side chipping away at his sanity. He became paranoid over nonexistent threats to his life, driving him further into seclusion. Cronal's tendency to mark his forces in black was another mark of his eccentricity, though it provided a tactical advantage as well.

Cronal was deeply involved in power plays and the political games that were necessary for a person in his position to survive within Palpatine's court. As such, he often pretended to show jealously to the likes of Darth Vader and even seemingly fail in an effort to cause his foes to underestimate him. As such, he often had complex strategies and played on the weaknesses of his foes. An example of this was using eye gestures and a softer tone in order to invoke sympathy among the Mon Calamari who judged a person's worth through their eyes. He also navigated the tense relationship Palpatine had with his apprentice and often showed a rivalry with Darth Vader. In addition, he played on perceived strengths in others in order to move himself away from positions of power. An example of this was ensuring Darth Vader's success so that the Sith apprentice would stay closer to his master rather than have Palpatine elevate Cronal to his right hand man. This had the dual role of keeping him safe which was seen by not being placed on the Death Star II and to get both followers of the Sith's oversight away from Cronal so he could safely work his operations in the shadows.

I think this is the guy Snoke is based on.

 

Canyon D

I'm looking around for who was on that Super Star Destroyer and why it was there but haven't found anything yet. Could you share that information?

 

Serkis, with parts of his description, alluded to Snoke as someone who has 'seen things and been around for quite some time.' So, we are probably dealing with someone who has existed in parallel with the events that unfolded in both trilogies. Keep in mind that he is also (most probably) the invention of Lawrance Kasdan and JJ Abrams. It's not gonna be a character that is somehow part of or originates from events in Star Wars games. Out of the question.

 

i agree!

Serkis:

To me, new to the universe has always implied new character not "new to the screen"

 

So, let's start a new one then:

Cronal = Snoke

 

I think you are wrong. Let's start with the basics and this interesting fact:

However, Pablo Hidalgo had already prepared a biography of Blackhole for the Rebellion Era Sourcebook; rather than have two conflicting reports, Hidalgo's biography was used in place of Peña's in the article.

Cronal was Pablo Hidalgo's creation. The same Pablo Hidalgo that JJ said this about:

I had at my side this incredible writer and researcher, Pablo Hidalgo. He has the unbelievable knowledge base of every arcane detail, every fact about every character or ship of unit of measurement or anything that you would need. This was the guy to go to. So he was someone we would show the movie to, and have him kick the tires and shake the tree, and sort of fan-proof it. He was (also) invaluable at answering questions that were either critical technical things or historic things about what had happened and that people already know and expect.

And also Pablo is the guy who wrote the TFA visual dictionary. So let's recap:

We have Snoke:



A character in a film that Pablo Hidalgo had a heavy hand in creating. A character who is a powerful Force user, who used politics and connections to the old Imperial Senate to force the New Republic to look the other way while he built up a military superpower out of the Imperial Remnant. A superpower whose military uniforms, fighter and shuttle craft, and flags have a much darker design motif then the Empire's. A man who commissioned the construction of a weapon capable of wiping out entire star systems. A man who has an agenda most of his followers don't know about.

Next we have Cronal:



A man from the old EU whose biography was Pablo Hidalgo's brain child. A former Emperor's Hand, Dark Side Prophet and head of Imperial Intelligence who looks like an undamaged version of Snoke. A powerful Dark Side Force user with a focus on divination and alchemy. A man adapt at playing power politics and with extensive ties to the old Imperial Senate. A man who was vicious in temperament and ordered his troops to lay waste to entire New Republic Solar Systems. A man who liked to dress his forces in black. A man who died and brought himself back to life.

Noticing similarities? It gets better. Cronal was also a member of the Sorcerers of Rhand. A group who believed in a power greater than the Force which they called the Dark and that by following the Will or the Way of the Dark, they were granted special powers. Cronal was a member of their order before he left to become a Prophet of the Dark Side for Palpatine. Sorcerers of Rhand, Knights of Ren. The Dark, The Beyond. Also, the Sorcerers of Rhand were based in the Perann Nebula in the Unknown Regions.

How interesting.

Way ahead of you.

 

Uhhh....substitute a couple of words and you have the actual description of Palpatine.Age Palpatine a bit and you have this guy!

 

Well we just found out Palbo was huge influence for Abrams...so.... You might have hit it.

 

So... the 1,8 meter tall Cronal dude - who btw is a human male, according to the wikia - is the same character as the 7 feet tall non-human Snoke?

You might be way ahead of me... but nevertheless, way ahead of me going down the wrong road.

 

Idk if this has been brought up btw yet, but in regards to today's reveal of the sculpture, I immediately thought of this:
http://www.planetfigure.com/attachments/7-jpg.130586/

 

I can see the big reveal now... "Snoke is but a name I chose to hide my true identity....my name...is Cronal..."



"Perek?....Shadowspawn?.....Blackhole?........bah nevermind."

 

I didn't say Snoke was Cronal though. I said he was based, and based heavily, upon him. Also, Cronal's page puts his height at 1.8 to 3 meters since he used holographic technology to make himself appear bigger. You left that part off.

Well, look at it this way. If Snoke's backstory is similar to Cronal then people get their Powerful Dark Side Bastard From The Beyond while I get my Former High Ranking Imperial. Both theories correct, everybody wins!

I didn't say he was Cronal, I said he was based on Cronal. See, exact words: Oh, I think I know who they based him on.

 

Charles Dance could play a pre-disfigured Cronal.

 

I can't possibly see how the size of Cronal's holographic projection, has any bearing on anything. The Emperor talked to Vader in The Empire Strikes Back via a huge hologram, so huge that only his head and shoulders could be seen. Does this mean that whenever someone alludes to The Emperor's physical height, they should mention that he is from 6-20 feet? Makes no sense to me.

But people can go with whatever Snoke theories they want. I don't really mind or care.

In 4 days I'll know myself.

 

Disappointed if those new pictures are Snoke. Might look better with him dressed up etc. but I think a modified damaged reptilian look would even be better than those pictures. Heck the Emperor in ROTJ looks a lot better than that imo. Sounds like it may be him but pretty disappointed if it is him. They did the voice good but not the look imo.