Adam Driver's Ben Solo Star Wars Sequel: What Happened to "The Hunt for Ben Solo"?

Get ready for a galactic scoop! Adam Driver, who brought the complex Kylo Ren to life, just revealed that he had a full-fledged sequel planned with Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh, but Disney ultimately blocked the project.

TL;DR

Adam Driver and director Steven Soderbergh developed "The Hunt for Ben Solo," a direct sequel to The Rise of Skywalker.
Lucasfilm, including Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni, loved the idea for the character-driven film.
Disney CEO Bob Iger and co-chair Alan Bergman rejected the pitch, citing Ben Solo's death in the previous film.

A Journey to Bring Ben Solo Back to the Big Screen

Ever since Adam Driver first wielded that crossguard lightsaber as Kylo Ren in 2015's The Force Awakens, fans have been captivated by the complicated son of Han Solo and Leia Organa. His journey from dark side enforcer to a redeemed Ben Solo at the end of The Rise of Skywalker was, to say the least, a rollercoaster.

Now, Driver himself has dropped a bombshell: he really, really wanted to return to that galaxy far, far away. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, he shared that he’d been keen on doing another Star Wars film since 2021. And it wasn't just idle talk. Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy apparently reached out, and Driver, ever the professional, laid out his condition: "With a great director and a great story, I’d be there in a second."

The Dream Team: Driver, Soderbergh, and a "Cool" Script

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That "great director" turned out to be none other than Academy Award winner Steven Soderbergh, known for critically acclaimed films like Traffic and Ocean's Eleven. Driver and Soderbergh, who previously worked together on Logan Lucky, teamed up to hatch a plan for a direct sequel to The Rise of Skywalker. The project was tentatively titled "The Hunt for Ben Solo."

Soderbergh, alongside Rebecca Blunt (a pseudonym reportedly used by his wife, Jules Asner, for screenwriting), outlined the story. They then brought in Scott Z. Burns, the writer behind Soderbergh's Contagion, to pen the actual script. Driver couldn't praise the script enough, calling it "one of the coolest f---ing scripts I had ever been a part of." He envisioned the film as "handmade and character-driven," much like the spirit of the original Star Wars films, specifically citing The Empire Strikes Back as the standard for what a Star Wars movie should be.

Lucasfilm Was In, But Disney Said No Go

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The pitch got a strong thumbs-up from within Lucasfilm. Driver confirmed that Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm Vice President Carrie Beck, and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni "loved the idea" and "totally understood our angle and why we were doing it." It seemed like everything was falling into place for a potentially exciting return for Ben Solo.

However, the journey ended abruptly when the project reached the very top. "We took it to [Disney CEO] Bob Iger and co-chair Alan Bergman," Driver revealed. Their response? A firm "no."

"They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that."

— Adam Driver to the Associated Press

Soderbergh also expressed his disappointment, telling AP, "I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it."

The Irony Isn't Lost on Star Wars Fans

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The reason for Disney's rejection – the small detail of Ben Solo dying at the end of The Rise of Skywalker – has sparked a wave of incredulity and frustration among fans. Many are quick to point out the perceived hypocrisy, considering the franchise's history with character resurrections:

Emperor Palpatine: Famously brought back in The Rise of Skywalker with the much-memed line, "Somehow, Palpatine returned." He was blown up in the Death Star, remember?
Darth Maul: Sliced in half and fell down a shaft in The Phantom Menace, only to reappear alive and well in The Clone Wars animated series.
Boba Fett: Seemingly met his demise in the Sarlacc Pit in Return of the Jedi, only to escape and get his own Disney+ series, The Book of Boba Fett.
Ahsoka Tano: Saved from certain death via time travel in Star Wars Rebels' "World Between Worlds."
Asajj Ventress: Brought back by a ritual in the comics after her apparent death.

The sentiment is clear: if these characters can find their way back, why couldn't Ben Solo? Fans argue that death in Star Wars has rarely been permanent for popular characters. This decision is seen by some as Disney and Lucasfilm being overly cautious or "risk-averse," especially after the mixed reactions to aspects of the sequel trilogy.

A Meaningful End or a Missed Opportunity?

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Not all fans, however, were rooting for Ben Solo's return. Some argue that his death in The Rise of Skywalker was a crucial, poignant moment. It represented his ultimate redemption, sacrificing himself for Rey, echoing and reversing Anakin Skywalker's tragic journey to save Padmé. His disappearance into the Force signaled his true return to the Light, becoming one with the Force alongside his ancestors.

From this perspective, bringing Ben Solo back to life would undermine the emotional weight and thematic significance of his sacrifice, potentially cheapening the end of the Skywalker saga. It's a debate that highlights the constant tension between fan desire for more content and preserving the integrity of a character's arc.

The Future of Star Wars (Without Ben Solo... for Now)

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While "The Hunt for Ben Solo" won't be hitting theaters, the Star Wars universe is far from dormant. Lucasfilm has a slate of exciting projects lined up:

Visions Volume 3: An upcoming installment in the animated anthology series.
The Mandalorian and Grogu: A big-screen adventure spinning off the popular Disney+ series, directed by Jon Favreau, set for May 22, 2026.
Star Wars: Starfighter: A new film starring Ryan Gosling, hitting theaters on May 28, 2027.
Untitled Rey Film: Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is directing a film that will see Daisy Ridley return as Rey.
Origins of the Force Film: James Mangold is developing a movie exploring the ancient origins of the Force.
Simon Kinberg Trilogy: The X-Men filmmaker is set to develop a new trilogy.
Lando Series: Donald Glover and his brother Stephen are reportedly writing the upcoming Disney+ series.

So, while Adam Driver's passion project won't see the light of day, the Force is still strong with upcoming adventures. It leaves us wondering, though, what kind of Ben Solo story we might have witnessed if Disney had been open to exploring new ways a dead character could live on in a galaxy that has seen it all.

FAQ

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When did Adam Driver reveal the "Hunt for Ben Solo" movie? Adam Driver revealed details about the rejected project in an interview with the Associated Press on October 21, 2025. Why did Disney reject the Ben Solo sequel? Disney CEO Bob Iger and co-chair Alan Bergman rejected the film because "they didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive" after his death in The Rise of Skywalker. What other Star Wars characters have returned from the dead or survived impossible odds? Notable characters include Emperor Palpatine, Darth Maul, Boba Fett, Asajj Ventress, and Ahsoka Tano, all of whom reappeared after seeming to be defeated or killed. What are the next Star Wars movies coming out? Currently announced films include The Mandalorian and Grogu (May 22, 2026) and Star Wars: Starfighter (May 28, 2027), along with other projects in development featuring Rey, the origins of the Force, and a new trilogy.