Adam Driver & Steven Soderbergh's Ben Solo Star Wars Movie Idea Was Shot Down

Turns out, Adam Driver and acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh had a "cool" Ben Solo sequel script ready to go, but Disney wasn't on board for the next chapter in a galaxy far, far away.

TL;DR:

• Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh pitched a direct sequel to The Rise of Skywalker, titled The Hunt for Ben Solo.
• Lucasfilm leadership, including Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni, loved the concept, but Disney execs Bob Iger and Alan Bergman ultimately rejected it.
• The main reason for the rejection? Disney brass "didn't see how Ben Solo was alive" after his apparent death, sparking debate among fans who recall other characters returning from the grave in the saga.

A Shocking Revelation From Adam Driver About His Star Wars Future

Hold onto your lightsabers, folks, because Adam Driver just dropped a bombshell that has Star Wars fans across the galaxy buzzing! The actor, famously known for bringing the conflicted Kylo Ren (aka Ben Solo) to life in the sequel trilogy, recently spilled the beans about a potential return to the franchise – one that almost happened with none other than Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh at the helm. And get this: Lucasfilm was totally on board, but Disney ultimately pulled the plug.

Driver, who played the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, and grandson of the legendary Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, has apparently been thinking about Ben Solo's unfinished business for a while. He told the Associated Press that he'd "always been interested in doing another Star Wars" and had been talking about it since 2021. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy herself had even reached out, with Driver always asserting he'd be there "with a great director and a great story."

Crafting a "Cool" Script for Ben Solo's Redemption Journey

And a great story is exactly what he sought! Driver took his vision to Steven Soderbergh, the acclaimed filmmaker behind Movies like Ocean's Eleven and Contagion. Together, Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt roughed out an outline for a sequel film that would pick up directly after 2019's The Rise of Skywalker. They then brought in screenwriter Scott Z. Burns (another frequent Soderbergh collaborator) to pen the script. Driver didn't mince words about the result, calling it "one of the coolest (expletive) scripts I had ever been a part of."

The film, tentatively titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, was envisioned by Driver as something "handmade and character-driven," even drawing comparisons to the beloved 1980 classic, The Empire Strikes Back, which he considers "the standard" for what a Star Wars movie should be. Imagine that kind of intimate, character-focused storytelling for Ben Solo!

Lucasfilm Loved It, But Disney Said "Absolutely Not"

The pitch process started off incredibly promising. Driver and Soderbergh presented their concept and script to key figures at Lucasfilm, including Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm Vice President Cary Beck, and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni, known for his instrumental work on animated hits like The Clone Wars and live-action series like The Mandalorian. The reception from Lucasfilm was overwhelmingly positive.

"We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it." — Adam Driver

It seemed like The Hunt for Ben Solo was on track to become a reality. But then came the meeting with the higher-ups at Disney. Driver recounted how they took the script to Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman, and that's where the journey ended abruptly.

"They said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that." — Adam Driver

Yep, you read that right. The official reason for the rejection was Disney's inability to comprehend how Ben Solo could have survived the events of The Rise of Skywalker, where he seemingly dies after Force healing Rey, transferring his life energy to her. As Driver put it, the project "is no more, so I can finally talk about it."

"I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it." — Steven Soderbergh

The "How Is He Alive?" Question: A Recurring Star Wars Debate

This reasoning from Disney has, understandably, lit up the fan community with a mix of frustration and sarcasm. Many quickly pointed out the perceived irony, given the franchise's track record with character resurrections. After all, wasn't Emperor Palpatine (blown up in the Death Star, mind you) somehow brought back to life in The Rise of Skywalker itself? The infamous line, "Somehow, Palpatine returned," has become a meme for a reason.

Fans were quick to list other characters who've cheated death in the Star Wars universe: Darth Maul, famously sliced in half and falling down a chasm, returned in animated and live-action form. Boba Fett also survived a trip into the Sarlacc pit. Even Ahsoka Tano was saved via time travel in Rebels. The argument is clear: in a galaxy with Force healing, time travel, cloning, and "somehow," death often seems more like a temporary inconvenience than a permanent state.

However, it's not just about finding a way to explain his survival. There's also a significant narrative argument against bringing Ben Solo back. Many critics and fans felt his sacrifice in The Rise of Skywalker was pivotal. It mirrored his grandfather Anakin Skywalker's journey but ended in a crucial difference: Ben chose to save the woman he loved (Rey), something Anakin tragically failed to do with Padmé. His death and becoming one with the Force completed his redemption arc, providing a definitive, albeit sad, conclusion to his story. Undoing that could, for some, cheapen the impact of his ultimate turn to the Light.

Where Are All the Ben Solo Action Figures, Though?

Adding another layer to the Ben Solo discourse is a separate, long-standing gripe from collectors: the noticeable lack of proper Ben Solo action figures. While Kylo Ren figures are plentiful, a figure depicting Ben Solo after his redemption – with his shorter hair and un-masked appearance – has been conspicuously absent from Hasbro's major lines like the Vintage Collection and Black Series. A Funko Pop exists, but it's not the same for serious collectors. This lack of merchandise feels like another missed opportunity for the character, reinforcing a sense that post-redemption Ben Solo hasn't been fully embraced by the larger franchise machine, despite his importance to the sequel trilogy's story.

It's an interesting parallel: Disney couldn't "see how Ben Solo was alive" for a movie, and seemingly, they also haven't seen fit to bring his redeemed form to the toy shelves. Perhaps this points to a broader discomfort or uncertainty within the company regarding the character's final moments and legacy.

The Future of Star Wars on the Big Screen

While we won't be seeing Adam Driver's Ben Solo on the big screen anytime soon, the Star Wars universe is far from dormant. There are plenty of other projects in the pipeline for fans to look forward to, promising new adventures and expanding the lore even further. So, while The Hunt for Ben Solo might be a dream we'll never see realized, the Force is still strong with upcoming cinematic endeavors.

• The Mandalorian and Grogu: The next confirmed Star Wars film release, directed by Jon Favreau and starring Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin, is set to hit theaters on May 22, 2026. This movie will continue the beloved Disney+ series' story on the big screen.
• Star Wars: Starfighter: Directed by Shawn Levy and reportedly starring Ryan Gosling, this film is scheduled for release on May 28, 2027. Details are scarce, but the title suggests some high-flying action!
• Rey's New Jedi Order Film: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is set to direct a film that will bring back Daisy Ridley as Rey, focusing on her establishing a new Jedi Order.
• Origins of the Force Film: James Mangold is developing a movie that delves into the ancient origins of the Force itself.
• Simon Kinberg Trilogy: X-Men filmmaker Simon Kinberg is also reportedly working on a new Star Wars trilogy.

So, while the news of a lost Ben Solo film stings for many, there's still a vast galaxy of stories waiting to be told. The legacy of Ben Solo, however, will continue to be debated and discussed by fans, proving just how impactful Adam Driver's performance and the character's journey truly were.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Lost Ben Solo Movie What was the title of Adam Driver's pitched Ben Solo movie? The film was tentatively titled The Hunt for Ben Solo. Why did Disney reject the Ben Solo movie idea? Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman reportedly rejected the script because "they didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive" after his death in The Rise of Skywalker. Who was involved in developing The Hunt for Ben Solo? Adam Driver developed the idea with director Steven Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt, with Scott Z. Burns writing the script. Lucasfilm leadership, including Kathleen Kennedy, Cary Beck, and Dave Filoni, approved the concept. Will Ben Solo ever return to the Star Wars universe? Currently, there are no official plans for Adam Driver to return as Ben Solo. Disney's rejection of this specific film pitch indicates a reluctance to bring the character back from the dead, at least for now. Sources:

• Deadline: "Adam Driver Was Interested In Another 'Star Wars,' Pitched Lucasfilm A Spinoff To 'The Rise Of Skywalker'" (October 20, 2025)
• Variety: "Adam Driver Pitched Kylo Ren ‘Star Wars’ Standalone Movie With Steven Soderbergh, but Disney Rejected Script" (October 20, 2025)
• io9: "If We Can’t Get a Ben Solo Movie, Can We at Least Get His Action Figure?" (October 21, 2025)
• No Film School: "We Almost Got a New 'Star Wars' Movie from Soderbergh and Adam Driver" (October 22, 2025)
• The Hollywood Reporter: "Adam Driver Reveals Disney Shot Down Ben Solo 'Star Wars' Sequel" (October 20, 2025)
• Los Angeles Times: "Adam Driver can finally talk about the Ben Solo ‘Star Wars’ movie he pitched. It didn’t end well" (October 21, 2025)
• IGN Daily Fix: "Rejected Star Wars Sequel Pitch Revealed By Adam Driver" (October 21, 2025)