Adam Driver's "Hunt for Ben Solo" Star Wars Film: Why Disney Said No

Get ready, Star Wars fans, because Adam Driver just dropped a bombshell: he and Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh had a "really cool" Ben Solo sequel ready to go, but Disney execs shot it down. Talk about a missed opportunity!

TL;DR: The Lowdown on the Lost Ben Solo Adventure

• Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh developed a post-Rise of Skywalker sequel titled The Hunt for Ben Solo.
• Lucasfilm was on board and "loved the idea," even bringing in a top writer for the script.
• Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman ultimately rejected the project, citing that "they didn't see how Ben Solo was alive" after his apparent death.

Adam Driver's Passion for Bringing Ben Solo Back to the Galaxy

Adam Driver, the man who brought Kylo Ren (and later, the redeemed Ben Solo) to life, has been pretty open about his love for the character. It turns out, that love almost sparked another movie! Driver recently spilled the beans in an interview with The Associated Press, revealing he'd been itching to do another Star Wars film since 2021. He shared that Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy herself had reached out, and his condition was always simple: a great director and a great story.

Driver clearly felt there was some "unfinished business" for Ben Solo after his heroic (and seemingly final) act in 2019's The Rise of Skywalker. He wasn't just idly wishing; he actively sought to make it happen.

"I always was interested in doing another Star Wars. I had been talking about doing another one since 2021. Kathleen [Kennedy] had reached out. I always said: With a great director and a great story, I’d be there in a second. I loved that character and loved playing him."

— Adam Driver

Assembling a Dream Team for a Character-Driven Star Wars Story

So, who better to team up with for a "great director" than Steven Soderbergh? Driver had previously worked with Soderbergh on Logan Lucky, and he brought his Ben Solo concept to the acclaimed filmmaker. Soderbergh, known for his diverse and often innovative filmography (think Ocean's Eleven, Traffic, or the recent spy thriller Black Bag), got together with Rebecca Blunt to outline the story. Then, they brought in Scott Z. Burns, a frequent Soderbergh collaborator, to pen the actual script.

And by all accounts, this wasn't just some rough draft. Driver raved about the script, calling it "one of the coolest (expletive) scripts I had ever been a part of." The proposed title? The Hunt for Ben Solo. It sounds like it promised a more intimate, "handmade and character-driven" experience, which Driver compared to the beloved classic, The Empire Strikes Back – a film he considers the "standard" for what a Star Wars movie should be.

Lucasfilm Was All In, But the Higher-Ups Had Other Ideas

With a passionate star, an Oscar-winning director, and a script lauded by Driver, the project seemed to be gaining serious momentum. They pitched the concept to Lucasfilm, specifically to Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm vice president Cary Beck, and chief creative officer Dave Filoni. And guess what? Lucasfilm "loved the idea." Driver explained that they "totally understood our angle and why we were doing it." It looked like a full-speed-ahead situation, a rare beacon of creative alignment within the often tumultuous world of Star Wars film development.

But then came the corporate hurdle. After Lucasfilm gave its blessing, the project moved up the chain to Disney's top brass: CEO Bob Iger and co-chairman Alan Bergman. This is where the dream hit a wall.

"We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it. We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that."

— Adam Driver

The reasoning? A simple, literal interpretation of Ben Solo's fate. Disney executives "didn't see how Ben Solo was alive" after his sacrifice in The Rise of Skywalker. And just like that, a potentially groundbreaking, character-focused Star Wars movie was gone.

The Curious Case of Star Wars Resurrections and Missed Opportunities

This rejection has left many fans scratching their heads, and not just because it sounds like a cool movie. It brings up a long-standing point of contention within the Star Wars universe: character resurrections. Let's be real, bringing characters back from the dead is practically a Star Wars tradition! From Darth Maul getting stapled back together to Boba Fett crawling out of a Sarlacc pit, and most notably, Emperor Palpatine's "somehow he returned" moment in The Rise of Skywalker itself, the franchise isn't shy about bending the rules of death.

So, for Disney executives to nix a Ben Solo sequel on the grounds of his death feels... well, a bit inconsistent, doesn't it? Especially for a character as complex and beloved as Ben Solo, whose arc Driver felt had more to explore. Critics are pointing out the irony, suggesting this might be another instance of Disney playing it safe and risk-averse, perhaps fearing another "Palpatine returned" meme backlash. It's a shame when creative passion and a unique vision from talent like Driver and Soderbergh get shut down by what feels like overly literal corporate thinking.

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

— Steven Soderbergh

Soderbergh himself shared his regret, stating he "really enjoyed making the movie in my head" but was "just sorry the fans won't get to see it." And honestly, we are too, Steven. We are too. This could have been a chance to tell a different kind of Star Wars story, one focused on the smaller, character-driven narratives that often resonate deeply with fans, much like The Empire Strikes Back did.

The Current Landscape of Star Wars Films and What Lies Ahead

With this Ben Solo project now firmly off the table, what does the future of Star Wars movies look like? The big screen has been relatively quiet since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, with the focus largely shifting to Disney+ shows like The Mandalorian and Andor. However, Lucasfilm is planning a return to cinemas.

Here’s what’s currently on the docket:

• The Mandalorian and Grogu: This cinematic spin-off of the hit Disney+ series, directed by Jon Favreau, is slated for a May 22, 2026 release. Get ready for more Mando and the little green guy on the big screen!
• Star Wars: Starfighter: Set to star Ryan Gosling, this film is expected to hit theaters on May 28, 2027. Details are still under wraps, but the title alone hints at some epic space combat.
• Daisy Ridley's Rey Skywalker Sequel: A film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is confirmed, bringing Daisy Ridley back as Rey Skywalker. This story will pick up roughly 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, focusing on Rey's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order.

While these upcoming projects offer plenty to look forward to, the revelation of a cancelled Ben Solo film with such a high-caliber team highlights the challenges and creative decisions being made behind the scenes. It makes you wonder what other incredible Star Wars stories might have almost been told.

George Lucas's Thoughts and Kathleen Kennedy's Ongoing Journey

The discussion around the creative direction of Star Wars isn't new. Even franchise creator George Lucas, who sold Lucasfilm to Disney for $4 billion in 2012, has weighed in. Last year, Lucas suggested the "new bosses got a lot wrong with the Sequel Trilogy," remarking that "nobody understood the Force" as he did. His comments underscore the deep, often conflicting visions for the galaxy far, far away.

Meanwhile, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, despite recent reports of her potential retirement, firmly stated in February (of the preceding year) that she is "not retiring" and plans to "die making movies." This means the leadership at Lucasfilm remains steady, even as the challenges of balancing fan expectations, corporate oversight, and creative ambition continue to shape the future of the beloved franchise.

So, while The Hunt for Ben Solo won't be gracing our screens, it serves as a fascinating peek into the "what ifs" of the Star Wars universe and a reminder that even the coolest scripts can face an unexpected "no."

Frequently Asked Questions About the Unmade Ben Solo Film What was the proposed title of the Ben Solo movie? The film was tentatively titled The Hunt for Ben Solo. Who was attached to direct and write the script? Adam Driver pitched the concept to Steven Soderbergh, who would have directed. Soderbergh outlined the story with Rebecca Blunt, and Scott Z. Burns wrote the script. Why did Disney reject the film? Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected it because they "didn't see how Ben Solo was alive" after his death in The Rise of Skywalker. Are there any other Star Wars movies confirmed? Yes, The Mandalorian and Grogu is set for May 22, 2026, and Star Wars: Starfighter (starring Ryan Gosling) for May 28, 2027. A sequel to The Rise of Skywalker featuring Rey Skywalker (Daisy Ridley) is also in development. Sources Used for This Article

• The Hollywood Reporter: Adam Driver Pitched Kylo Ren ‘Star Wars’ Standalone Movie With Steven Soderbergh, but Disney Rejected Script
• Variety: Adam Driver Pitched Kylo Ren ‘Star Wars’ Standalone Movie With Steven Soderbergh, but Disney Rejected Script
• io9: ‘Star Wars’ Tried to Bring Kylo Ren Back to Life in a Steven Soderbergh Movie
• Kotaku: Disney Killed Adam Driver’s Cool Star Wars Movie For The Dumbest Reason
• Forbes: Why Disney Shot Down Adam Driver’s ‘The Hunt For Ben Solo’ Movie
• Hypebeast: Adam Driver Reveals Disney Shot Down a Ben Solo 'Star Wars' Sequel Directed by Steven Soderbergh