Ahead of the release of The Last Jedi next week, Gleeson has spilled on how Hux wants the top job – and sees Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) as big competition.
Speaking to ScreenRant, Gleeson said: “They’ve [Hux and Ren] always seemed to be adversarial, you know?
“I think Hux wants to be at the top and he wants to get the crown from Snoke and he knows that Kylo Ren’s probably in a better position to get that.
“So I think this fear and hatred, I think he’s a bit freaked out by all the magic stuff.”
The actor added: “I think that’s where he’s out with him you now, you know?”
The Last Jedi is out next week, when much of the fan speculation will finally be answered.
Between them, Snoke, Hux and Kylo Ren are set to pose an enormous threat to the likes of Finn (John Boyega), Rey (Daisy Ridley), Leia (Carrie Fisher), Poe (Oscar Isaac) and newcomer Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern).
In a recent interview, Rian Johnson – the film’s writer and director – may have let slip that Leia will finally come face-to-face with brother Luke (Mark Hamill) after years apart.
The reunion would be particularly bittersweet given Fisher’s death soon after filming completed.
“Once or twice a day, you’d look around and say, ‘And we’re filming Luke and Leia in the Millennium Falcon’ or we’d say, ‘That’s C-3PO in the shot!’” he said of his time on set.
“So, 98% was a wonderful, familiar process and 2% terrifying, ‘We’re making Star Wars!’ which was a good balance.”
Star Wars: The Last Jedi is out on December 14.