Adam Driver Reveals Canceled Ben Solo Star Wars Movie with Steven Soderbergh

Get ready for some truly wild news, Star Wars fans! Adam Driver, our beloved Kylo Ren, just dropped a bombshell about a "really cool" Ben Solo movie he developed with Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh that Disney ultimately shot down.

TL;DR

• Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh spent two years developing "The Hunt for Ben Solo," a post-Rise of Skywalker film.
• Lucasfilm execs Kathleen Kennedy, Carrie Beck, and Dave Filoni loved the script, calling it "one of the coolest" Driver had seen.
• Disney bigwigs Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected the project because they "didn't see how Ben Solo was alive."

A Galactic Dream That Almost Was: The Hunt for Ben Solo

Hold onto your lightsabers, folks, because Adam Driver, the man who brought Kylo Ren (aka Ben Solo) to life, has revealed a fascinating piece of Star Wars history that almost happened! Speaking to the Associated Press, Driver spilled the beans on a standalone movie concept he'd been working on since 2021: "The Hunt for Ben Solo." And get this – he wasn't doing it alone. He teamed up with none other than acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh!

Driver, who clearly has a deep affection for the character, shared his ongoing interest in returning to the galaxy far, far away. He mentioned that Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy had reached out to him, and his condition was always simple: "With a great director and a great story, I’d be there in a second. I loved that character and loved playing him."

The Star-Studded Team Behind the Unseen Script

This wasn't just a casual chat over space caf. Driver took his concept to Steven Soderbergh, known for his unique cinematic vision in films like Ocean's Eleven and Traffic. Soderbergh, along with Rebecca Blunt (reportedly a pseudonym for his wife, Jules Asner), outlined the story. Then, they brought in Scott Z. Burns, a frequent Soderbergh collaborator, to pen the script. Driver didn't mince words about the result:

"It was one of the coolest [expletive] scripts I had ever been a part of."

— Adam Driver to the Associated Press

Imagine that kind of talent tackling the complex character of Ben Solo! The idea was for a direct sequel to The Rise of Skywalker, exploring Ben Solo's journey after his apparent sacrifice. Driver felt there was "unfinished business" for the character, and he had envisioned a different arc for Kylo Ren during the sequel trilogy, one that inverted Darth Vader's journey. This movie would have picked up that thread.

Lucasfilm's Enthusiasm vs. Disney's Reality Check

So, with such a strong team and an "incredibly cool" script, what could possibly go wrong? Well, that's where the story gets a bit… frustrating. The team presented "The Hunt for Ben Solo" to Lucasfilm leadership, including Kathleen Kennedy, Vice President Carrie Beck, and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni. And guess what? They loved it!

Driver recounted, "We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it." It sounds like everyone at Lucasfilm was on board with the vision for a character-driven film, one that Driver compared to the "handmade feel" of the original Star Wars films, specifically citing The Empire Strikes Back as the "standard." They even planned to be "judicial about how to spend money and be economical with it," aiming for a more modestly budgeted, focused story.

However, the green light from Lucasfilm wasn't enough. The project had to go through Disney's top brass.

The Galactic Gatekeepers Say "No"

This is where "The Hunt for Ben Solo" hit a brick wall. When the script was taken to Disney CEO Bob Iger and co-chairman Alan Bergman, the answer was a resounding "no." And the reason? Driver explained it bluntly: "They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that."

Soderbergh echoed the sentiment of disappointment, stating, "I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it." It’s a real shame, considering the creative energy and passion poured into a project that aimed to deliver a unique, character-focused Star Wars experience.

The Irony Isn't Lost on Fans

For many fans, Disney's reason for the rejection is, to put it mildly, a head-scratcher. The Star Wars universe has a rich (and sometimes convoluted) history of characters returning from seemingly certain death. Boba Fett crawled out of a Sarlacc pit. Darth Maul was literally cut in half and brought back. And let's not forget Emperor Palpatine's controversial return in The Rise of Skywalker with the infamous line, "Somehow, Palpatine returned."

Given these precedents, the idea that Disney executives couldn't fathom a way for Ben Solo to return, even after a "Force merge" death, strikes many as "bizarrely pedantic." It raises questions about creative freedom within the franchise and whether the fear of fan backlash (especially after the "Palpatine" criticism) is leading to an overly cautious approach to storytelling. This canceled film feels like another missed opportunity to explore one of the sequel trilogy's most compelling characters with fresh eyes.

What's Next for Star Wars on the Big Screen?

While "The Hunt for Ben Solo" is sadly off the table, the Star Wars cinematic universe isn't completely dormant. Here's a quick look at what we can expect:

• Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu: Hitting theaters on May 22, 2026, this film will continue the story of Din Djarin and his adorable foundling, Grogu, expanding on the popular Disney+ series.
• Star Wars: Starfighter: Scheduled for May 28, 2027, this Shawn Levy-directed movie is set to star Ryan Gosling. Details are sparse, but it promises new adventures.
• Rey's New Jedi Order: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is directing a film that will see Daisy Ridley return as Rey, approximately 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, as she attempts to rebuild the Jedi Order.
• Origins of the Force: James Mangold is working on a film exploring the ancient origins of the Force.
• Simon Kinberg's Trilogy: The X-Men filmmaker is also developing a new Star Wars trilogy.

It's clear Lucasfilm has a lot planned, but the revelation of "The Hunt for Ben Solo" leaves us wondering what could have been. A unique, character-driven story from acclaimed filmmakers, focusing on a fan-favorite character with "unfinished business," seemed like a recipe for success. But for now, Ben Solo's story remains closed in the eyes of Disney.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Canceled Ben Solo Movie

What was Adam Driver's canceled Star Wars movie called?

The proposed film was titled "The Hunt for Ben Solo" and would have explored the character's journey after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Why did Disney reject "The Hunt for Ben Solo"?

According to Adam Driver, Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected the script because "they didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive" after his sacrifice in The Rise of Skywalker.

Who was involved in developing this Ben Solo film?

Adam Driver conceived the idea and would have starred. Steven Soderbergh was set to direct, with Rebecca Blunt outlining the story and Scott Z. Burns writing the script. Lucasfilm executives Kathleen Kennedy, Carrie Beck, and Dave Filoni were reportedly enthusiastic about the concept.

Was Adam Driver interested in doing more Star Wars?

Yes, Driver explicitly stated he was always interested in doing another Star Wars film, provided there was a "great director and a great story." He loved playing the character of Kylo Ren/Ben Solo and felt he had "unfinished business."

Sources

• Associated Press (via various news outlets like IGN, Variety, Deadline, Los Angeles Times, Forbes)