Fans are rallying to save a canceled Star Wars film centered on Ben Solo, with director Steven Soderbergh and star Adam Driver revealing Disney rejected their script despite Lucasfilm's enthusiasm.
TL;DR- Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh developed a Star Wars sequel, The Hunt for Ben Solo, for two years.
- Lucasfilm loved the script, but Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected it, citing Ben Solo's death in The Rise of Skywalker.
- Fans are heavily campaigning for the film, including flying a banner over Disney Studios.
Star Wars fans are campaigning to save 'The Hunt for Ben Solo,' a canceled movie pitch from Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh. Learn why Disney rejected it and what's next for the galaxy.
The Star Wars Story We Almost Saw: The Hunt for Ben Solo
Alright, fellow Star Wars fans, buckle up because we've got some wild news from a galaxy not so far away. It turns out that Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh and our very own Kylo Ren, Adam Driver, had been secretly cooking up a Star Wars movie called The Hunt for Ben Solo. And get this: Disney flat-out rejected it!
The bombshell dropped recently when Adam Driver spilled the beans in an interview, calling it "one of the coolest (expletive) scripts I had ever been a part of." He'd been talking about doing another Star Wars project since 2021, always saying he'd be there "with a great director and a great story." Sounds like he found both!
Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh's 'The Hunt for Ben Solo' Star Wars movie was rejected by Disney, a first for Lucasfilm's completed scripts. Discover why fans are campaigning to save it!
Bringing Ben Solo's Redemption Story to the Big Screen
The concept for The Hunt for Ben Solo would have followed Ben Solo's journey after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, focusing on his path to redemption. Driver envisioned it as a more "character-driven" and "handmade" story, even comparing its spirit to the critically acclaimed The Empire Strikes Back. Soderbergh outlined the story with Rebecca Blunt, and Scott Z. Burns was brought in to write the screenplay, a process that reportedly took two years.
Imagine that: a Steven Soderbergh Star Wars movie, starring Adam Driver, diving deep into the complexities of Ben Solo. For many fans, this sounds like a dream come true, offering a chance to explore a character who had a significant but tragically cut-short redemption arc in the sequel trilogy. But sadly, this dream was not meant to be.
Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh's 'The Hunt for Ben Solo' Star Wars movie was shut down by Disney. Find out why fans are furious about this missed opportunity and what it means for the future of the Skywalker saga.
Why Disney Said No to a Steven Soderbergh Star Wars Film
So, what happened? According to Driver, Lucasfilm executives Kathleen Kennedy, Cary Beck, and Dave Filoni "loved the idea" and "totally understood our angle." They were on board! But when the completed script was taken to Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chair Alan Bergman, they delivered a definitive "no." Their reasoning? "They didn't see how Ben Solo was alive."
Steven Soderbergh on the rejection:
"For the record, I did not enjoy lying about the existence of THE HUNT FOR BEN SOLO, but it really did need to remain a secret…until now!"
"Also, in the aftermath of the HFBS situation, I asked Kathy Kennedy if LFL had ever turned in a finished movie script for greenlight to Disney and had it rejected. She said no, this was a first."
Soderbergh himself commented on Bluesky, confirming that keeping the project a secret was tough, and highlighting that Kennedy told him it was the first time Lucasfilm had a finished script rejected by Disney for greenlight. He also shared his regret with the Associated Press, stating, "I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I'm just sorry the fans won't get to see it."
Adam Driver reveals his 'cool' Ben Solo Star Wars sequel pitch with Steven Soderbergh was nixed by Disney. Find out why and what's next for the galaxy far, far away!
The Passionate Fan Campaign to Save The Hunt for Ben Solo
As you can imagine, this news sent shockwaves through the Star Wars community. Ben Solo, the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, and grandson of Anakin Skywalker, captivated many as the conflicted villain Kylo Ren. His redemption and subsequent death in The Rise of Skywalker left a lot of fans feeling like his story wasn't fully resolved. The idea of him returning for a deeper dive into his character, especially with a talent like Soderbergh at the helm, was incredibly appealing.
And fans aren't taking this rejection lying down! On October 23, 2025, a banner plane was flown over Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, emblazoned with "SAVE #THEHUNTFORBENSOLO." Lianna Al Allaf, the fan who organized the impressive stunt, told Collider, "I really hope this banner shows the decision makers at Disney that the fans really do want this. I hope this banner shows just how much the character of Ben Solo means to so many of us, and that the fans really do want this movie." The online reaction has been equally massive, with social media buzzing with calls for Disney to reconsider.
Adam Driver details his pitched Ben Solo Star Wars film with Steven Soderbergh, titled 'The Hunt for Ben Solo,' and why Disney ultimately rejected the 'coolest script.'
Could Ben Solo Truly Return from the Depths of the Force?
Disney's main hang-up was Ben Solo's death in The Rise of Skywalker. After sacrificing himself to save Rey, his body faded away, becoming one with the Force. Unlike other Force users who appear as Force ghosts, Ben never did. This led Disney execs to believe there was no viable way to bring him back.
However, many fans and even some critics argue that Star Wars has a long history of characters returning from the dead. We've seen Palpatine, Darth Maul (sliced in half, remember?), and Asajj Ventress all find ways back. ScreenRant even pointed out that the Force Dyad, introduced in the sequel trilogy between Rey and Kylo Ren, could easily be a narrative device for Rey to resurrect Ben, given he essentially resurrected her at the end of The Rise of Skywalker.
On the flip side, some argue that Ben's death was a crucial and impactful end to his redemption arc. Polygon's take highlighted that his sacrifice mirrored Anakin's inability to save Padmé, but Kylo succeeded in saving Rey, making his death a poignant and complete ending. Bringing him back, for this camp, would undermine that powerful moment.
The Wider Implications for Star Wars' Future Direction
This saga around The Hunt for Ben Solo also shines a light on Disney's ongoing challenges with its Star Wars cinematic slate post-The Rise of Skywalker. The film series has faced mixed reactions and several announced projects have seemingly been shelved. The decision to reject a "cool," character-driven story from acclaimed talent like Soderbergh and Driver, especially when Lucasfilm was keen, raises questions about Disney's creative strategy.
On the merchandise front, it's a similar story of missed opportunities. Io9 reported that despite his significance, there’s no proper Ben Solo action figure (just a Funko Pop!), with Hasbro largely neglecting sequel trilogy characters since 2021. For many, this reflects a broader hesitation to fully embrace and market the sequel era's unique elements.
Looking ahead, Star Wars is set to return to the big screen with The Mandalorian and Grogu next year. There's also the highly anticipated film featuring Daisy Ridley's Rey rebuilding the Jedi Order, though its release date is still TBD and reports suggest it’s facing script approval hurdles. Whether the fan campaign for Ben Solo will sway Disney remains to be seen, but it's clear the passion for this complicated character endures.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Hunt for Ben Solo
- Deadline.com
- Variety.com
- TheGuardian.com
- GamesRadar.com (via CinemaBlend)
- USAToday.com
- ScreenRant.com
- Polygon.com
- io9.gizmodo.com