Fans Rally to Save Adam Driver's "The Hunt for Ben Solo" Star Wars Movie

Adam Driver spilled the beans about a super cool, standalone Ben Solo Star Wars film that got the boot from Disney, and fans are definitely not taking it lying down. They've even flown a giant banner over Disney Studios to make their feelings known!

TL;DR: The Lowdown on the Ben Solo Movie Drama

• Adam Driver and director Steven Soderbergh developed "The Hunt for Ben Solo," a post-Rise of Skywalker film focusing on Kylo Ren's redemption.
• Lucasfilm executives were on board, but Disney CEOs Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected the project because they "didn't see how Ben Solo was alive."
• Furious fans are protesting Disney's decision, even chartering a plane with a "Save The Hunt for Ben Solo" banner over the studio.

Adam Driver Reveals His Scrapped Ben Solo Star Wars Vision

Hold onto your lightsabers, folks, because Adam Driver just dropped a bombshell that has the entire Star Wars galaxy buzzing! Driver, who famously brought the conflicted Kylo Ren (aka Ben Solo) to life in the sequel trilogy, recently revealed to the Associated Press that he spent a solid two years developing a standalone Star Wars movie focused on his fan-favorite character.

This wasn't just a casual chat; Driver teamed up with acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh (yep, the guy behind Ocean's Eleven and Contagion!) on a script titled "The Hunt for Ben Solo." The idea was to explore Ben's story after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. Imagine that! It sounds like it would've been a deeply character-driven tale, much like Driver's beloved The Empire Strikes Back, which he called the "standard" for what a Star Wars movie "should be." Soderbergh brought in his frequent collaborators, Rebecca Blunt and Scott Z. Burns, to co-write the script, making this a seriously high-caliber creative team.

Driver confessed he'd been interested in doing another Star Wars film since 2021, saying, "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." By his account, Lucasfilm executives Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Cary Beck were all "on board" and "loved the idea," fully understanding the angle they were going for. But then, the Force encountered a disturbance at the highest level.

"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 (via The Associated Press)

And what did Soderbergh think about the whole thing? "I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it." Driver even called it "one of the coolest scripts I had ever been a part of." Talk about a missed opportunity!

Disney's Rationale for Rejecting the Ben Solo Sequel

So, why did Disney's top brass, Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, give this promising project the cold shoulder? Their main sticking point was simple: "They didn't see how Ben Solo was alive." For those who might need a refresher, Ben Solo sacrificed himself at the end of The Rise of Skywalker to save Rey, fading into the Force just like many Jedi before him. It was a poignant, if heartbreaking, end to his redemption arc.

However, many fans (and film critics) quickly pointed out the irony here. In the same movie, Emperor Palpatine somehow returned with a famously meme-worthy line, "Somehow, Palpatine returned." Plus, Star Wars has a rich history of characters cheating death: Darth Maul survived being sliced in half, Asajj Ventress was brought back by a ritual, and even Ahsoka Tano was saved via time travel in Rebels through the World Between Worlds. So, for Disney to claim they couldn't envision a way for Ben Solo to return struck many as a rather weak excuse.

Some fans even argue that the Force Dyad, a powerful connection shared between Rey and Kylo Ren, could easily have been the mechanism for Ben's return. After all, Ben himself used the Dyad to bring Rey back from the brink, even at the cost of his own life. Couldn't Rey, with her growing powers, find a way to reciprocate? It seems the creative team behind "The Hunt for Ben Solo" might have had a solution that Disney simply wasn't willing to entertain.

While some argue that undoing Ben Solo's death would undermine his sacrifice, many believe his journey, especially after his redemption, offers fertile ground for storytelling. The cancellation of this project adds to a growing list of ambitious Star Wars film ideas (like rumored projects from David Fincher, Rian Johnson's proposed trilogy, or Guillermo del Toro's Jabba the Hutt film) that have been shelved, leaving fans hungry for fresh, compelling cinematic adventures.

The Fans Strike Back: A High-Flying Protest Over Disney Studios

When Adam Driver's interview went public, the Star Wars fandom erupted! Ben Solo is a deeply complex and beloved character, and the news that a movie centered on his redemption was rejected sent shockwaves through the community. Many fans were already frustrated with the relatively slow pace of new Star Wars movies since The Rise of Skywalker, with several projects seemingly stalled or scrapped.

But this wasn't just online chatter. A dedicated group of fans, organized by Lianna Al Allaf, took their protest directly to Disney's doorstep! They paid for a plane to fly a banner over Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, emblazoned with the message: "Save The Hunt for Ben Solo." Collider reporters were even on the scene to capture photos of this incredible display of fan passion.

Al Allaf hoped the stunt would "show the decision makers at Disney that the fans really do want this," adding, "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." It’s clear the message was aimed squarely at Iger and Bergman, the executives who ultimately pulled the plug, despite Lucasfilm's initial enthusiasm.

This bold move highlights the deep connection fans have with these characters and stories, and their desire for more unique, character-driven narratives that push the boundaries of the galaxy far, far away, rather than sticking to what Disney perceives as "safe bets."

The Future of Star Wars Movies: What's Still on the Horizon?

While "The Hunt for Ben Solo" might be off the table for now, the Star Wars cinematic universe isn't entirely dormant. Fans can look forward to some big-screen adventures in the coming years:

• The Mandalorian and Grogu: This highly anticipated film, a continuation of the popular Disney+ series, is set to hit theaters on May 22, 2026. Jon Favreau is directing.
• Star Wars: Starfighter: Directed by Shawn Levy and rumored to star Ryan Gosling, this film is currently in production and aiming for a May 28, 2027 release date.

Beyond these, other projects announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023, like a Rey feature (with Daisy Ridley returning!), a story about the First Jedi, and Dave Filoni's "Mando-verse" crossover film, are still in various stages of development. It seems Disney is trying to find its footing for the next era of Star Wars on the big screen, but many fans are hoping this latest outcry will make them reconsider the kinds of compelling stories they might be overlooking.

Whether the "Save The Hunt for Ben Solo" movement will sway Disney's decision remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Force is strong with the fans, and they're not afraid to fight for the stories they believe in.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Canceled Ben Solo Movie

Q: Is Ben Solo officially alive in Star Wars canon after The Rise of Skywalker?

A: Officially, Ben Solo dies at the end of The Rise of Skywalker after sacrificing himself to save Rey, becoming one with the Force. Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected "The Hunt for Ben Solo" movie precisely because they couldn't see a canonical way for him to still be alive.

Q: Why did Disney reject "The Hunt for Ben Solo" movie pitch?

A: According to Adam Driver, Lucasfilm executives supported the project, but Disney CEOs Bob Iger and Alan Bergman ultimately said no. Their primary reason was that they "didn't see how Ben Solo was alive" after his death in The Rise of Skywalker.

Q: Who was involved in developing this proposed Ben Solo movie?

A: Adam Driver and Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh developed the film for two years. The script, titled "The Hunt for Ben Solo," was co-written by Soderbergh's frequent collaborators Rebecca Blunt and Scott Z. Burns.

Q: What other Star Wars movies are confirmed to be coming out soon?

A: Two Star Wars films are currently slated for release: The Mandalorian and Grogu (May 22, 2026) and Star Wars: Starfighter (May 28, 2027). Other projects are in development but without firm release dates.

Sources

• Variety: ‘Star Wars’ Fans Fly Plane Over Disney Studios With ‘Save The Hunt for Ben Solo’ Banner After Adam Driver Reveals Rejected Kylo Ren Movie
• Deadline: Adam Driver Pitched Kylo Ren Spinoff To Lucasfilm & Disney
• Collider: ‘Star Wars’ Fans Fly Plane Over Disney Studios After Adam Driver Reveals Canceled Sequel
• ScreenRant: Star Wars Has An Easy Way To Bring Ben Solo Back
• Polygon: Adam Driver revealing a canceled Ben Solo movie isn’t the Star Wars news I want
• io9: ‘Star Wars’ Might Have Turned Down Another Big Director Too
• A.V. Club: Kylo Ren fans have already flown a “Save #TheHuntForBenSolo” banner over Disney