Star Wars Fans Are Fighting Hard to "Save The Hunt for Ben Solo"

A secret Star Wars movie starring Adam Driver as Ben Solo almost happened, but Disney said no. Now, passionate fans are taking matters into their own hands, launching a massive campaign to convince the studio to rethink its decision!

TL;DR: Here's the Scoop on The Hunt for Ben Solo

• Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh and Adam Driver developed a script for "The Hunt for Ben Solo," a post-Rise of Skywalker redemption story.
• Lucasfilm executives, including Kathleen Kennedy, loved the script, but Disney CEO Bob Iger and Alan Bergman ultimately rejected it due to concerns about Ben Solo's survival.
• Fans are now protesting with plane banners, Times Square billboards, and planned rallies, urging Disney to greenlight the project.

The Movie That Almost Was: Adam Driver's Return as Ben Solo

Imagine this: a whole new Star Wars film focused on Ben Solo's journey after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. Sounds pretty awesome, right? Well, it almost became a reality! Adam Driver, who brought Kylo Ren/Ben Solo to life in the sequel trilogy, recently spilled the beans that he'd been working on a standalone movie idea since 2021.

He teamed up with acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh (you know, the guy behind hits like Ocean's Eleven and Contagion) to develop a script. Soderbergh worked on it with Rebecca Blunt and Scott Z. Burns. Driver was super enthusiastic about the project, calling it "one of the coolest fing scripts I had ever been a part of." He even compared it to the "handmade and character-driven" feel of The Empire Strikes Back, which is high praise in the Star Wars universe!

"I always was interested in doing another Star Wars. 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 to the Associated Press

A Shocking Rejection: Why Disney Shut Down the Project

So, what went wrong? Driver and Soderbergh pitched their vision, titled The Hunt For Ben Solo, to Lucasfilm. And here's where it gets interesting: Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, along with Dave Filoni and Cary Beck, were reportedly all on board! They "loved the idea" and "totally understood [their] angle and why [they] were doing it."

However, when the project made its way up the corporate ladder to Disney CEO Bob Iger and co-chairman Alan Bergman, things hit a brick wall. Their reason? "They didn't see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that," Driver revealed. This rejection is a pretty big deal. Soderbergh himself confirmed on Bluesky that he asked Kathleen Kennedy if Lucasfilm had ever turned in a completed movie script to Disney and had it rejected before. Her answer? "She said no, this was a first." That's right, The Hunt for Ben Solo was apparently the first completed Lucasfilm script Disney ever outright turned down.

Soderbergh, who admitted he "did not enjoy lying about the existence" of the film, has publicly shared his disappointment. "I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I'm just sorry the fans won't get to see it," he told the Associated Press.

Fans Unleash the Force: The Campaign to "Save The Hunt for Ben Solo"

The news of this canceled project has sent the Star Wars fandom into a frenzy! Ben Solo, with his complex arc from villainous Kylo Ren to a redeemed hero, is a massive fan favorite. Many felt his ending in The Rise of Skywalker was abrupt and left too many questions unanswered. This isn't just about a movie; it's about narrative closure for a character many deeply connected with.

The anger and passion quickly turned into action. Here's a rundown of how fans are making their voices heard:

• Sky-High Message: A group of fans chartered a plane on Friday, October 24, and flew it over Disney Studios in Burbank, California, with a banner that boldly read: "Save The Hunt for Ben Solo." Talk about making an entrance!
• Times Square Takeover: Not stopping at the West Coast, a fan-funded billboard appeared in Times Square, New York City, at 1500 Broadway. Flashing every 28 minutes, it proclaimed: "For Adam. No one's ever really gone. Hope lives. Ben is alive! #THBS."
• Petitions and Protests: A Change.org petition has garnered over 3,700 signatures, and fans are even organizing real-world protests at Disney's main offices in Burbank and New York City. These demonstrations are reportedly timed to coincide with Disney's Q4 shareholders' meeting in early November, with potential rally dates eyed for November 8-13.
• Social Media Swarm: The hashtag #SaveTheHuntForBenSolo has flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, with fans passionately discussing the project and why it deserves to be made.

This level of fan activism shows just how much this character and story mean to the community. As one fan, Lianna Al Allaf, who commissioned the plane banner, put it: "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 Return Question: Could Ben Solo Have Come Back to Life?

Disney's main hang-up was "how Ben Solo was alive" after his sacrifice in The Rise of Skywalker. However, many fans and even critics argue that Star Wars lore provides plenty of ways for characters to return from the brink. Let's not forget:

• Palpatine's Surprise Return: The Emperor himself mysteriously came back in The Rise of Skywalker with the famously meme'd line, "Somehow Palpatine returned." If he can do it, why not Ben?
• The Force Dyad: The sequel trilogy introduced the powerful Force Dyad shared by Rey and Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. At the end of Rise of Skywalker, Ben essentially resurrected Rey using the Force. Many speculate that Rey, having grown in her own power, could find a way to return the favor for Ben.
• Other Resurrections: The Star Wars universe is no stranger to characters cheating death. Darth Maul was sliced in half and returned multiple times. Asajj Ventress was brought back via a ritual. Ahsoka Tano was even saved from death via time travel in Rebels using the World Between Worlds.

While some argue that Ben's sacrifice was a perfect and meaningful end to his arc, akin to Anakin Skywalker's redemption, and bringing him back would diminish it, others believe his story deserved more. The proposed film wasn't meant to be a massive blockbuster, but a "smaller, more personal exploration of redemption and identity," with Adam Driver noting they aimed to be "economical" and "character-driven."

What This Means for the Future of Star Wars and Fan Engagement

This whole situation highlights a growing tension between studio decisions and passionate fan desires, especially in a franchise as beloved as Star Wars. While Disney is pushing ahead with upcoming projects like The Mandalorian and Grogu (hitting theaters May 22 next year) and Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter (eyeing a May 28, 2027 release with Ryan Gosling), the "Hunt for Ben Solo" movement is a loud reminder that fans want to feel heard.

Whether or not this incredible fan campaign will sway Disney to reconsider remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Force is strong with the #SaveTheHuntForBenSolo movement, and they're proving that the Star Wars community knows how to make itself heard loud and clear across the galaxy.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Hunt for Ben Solo Is "The Hunt for Ben Solo" movie still happening? Unfortunately, as of now, Disney has officially rejected the project. Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh have confirmed its cancellation, citing Disney executives' concerns about Ben Solo's survival after The Rise of Skywalker. Why did Disney reject the film if Lucasfilm liked it? While Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and other execs reportedly supported the script, Disney CEO Bob Iger and co-chairman Alan Bergman made the final decision to reject it. Their primary reason was a perceived difficulty in explaining how Ben Solo could be alive after his death in The Rise of Skywalker. How could Ben Solo realistically return in Star Wars lore? Fans and some critics argue there are several ways. The Force Dyad shared by Rey and Ben Solo, which allowed Ben to resurrect Rey, could theoretically be used by Rey to bring Ben back. Additionally, other characters like Palpatine, Darth Maul, and Ahsoka Tano have found ways to return from apparent death in the Star Wars universe, suggesting creative solutions are possible. What can fans do to support "The Hunt for Ben Solo"? Fans are actively campaigning by signing online petitions (like the one on Change.org), using the hashtag #SaveTheHuntForBenSolo on social media, and organizing physical protests and displays like the plane banner over Disney Studios and the billboard in Times Square. The goal is to show Disney the strong demand for the film. Sources

• Collider. "Star Wars Fans Fly Plane Over Disney Studios With ‘Save The Hunt for Ben Solo’ Banner After Adam Driver Reveals Rejected Kylo Ren Movie." (Mentions the plane stunt and quotes Lianna Al Allaf)
• Deadline. "Steven Soderbergh Says Kathleen Kennedy Told Him Disney Had Never Turned Down a Completed Lucasfilm Script Before Star Wars: The Hunt for Ben Solo." (Quotes Soderbergh's Bluesky post and his AP statement, also Adam Driver's AP quote)
• Screen Rant. "The Force Dyad Can Easily Bring Ben Solo Back." (Discusses Force Dyad as a method for Ben's return, fan disappointment)
• Polygon. "Kylo Ren’s death was the one good part of The Rise of Skywalker. Don’t undo it." (Presents a counter-argument to Ben Solo's return)
• io9. "If We Can’t Get a Ben Solo Movie, Can We at Least Get His Action Figure?" (Mentions lack of Ben Solo merchandise, broader sequel trilogy issues)
• IGN. "Steven Soderbergh Says Kathleen Kennedy Told Him Disney Had Never Turned Down a Completed Lucasfilm Script Before Star Wars: The Hunt for Ben Solo." (Reinforces Soderbergh's quote about Kennedy's confirmation)