Star Wars fans are buzzing and flying banners after Adam Driver spilled the beans about a top-secret Ben Solo sequel movie he developed with director Steven Soderbergh, only for Disney to surprisingly shoot it down.
TL;DR
- Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh spent two years developing a Star Wars sequel, The Hunt for Ben Solo, focusing on Kylo Ren's redemption.
- Lucasfilm was on board, but Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected the project, citing concerns over how Ben Solo could be alive after The Rise of Skywalker.
- Fans are actively campaigning for the film's revival, even flying a "Save #TheHuntForBenSolo" banner over Disney Studios.
A Galaxy-Sized Secret Finally Revealed: Adam Driver's Ben Solo Project
Alright, fellow Star Wars enthusiasts, buckle up! If you thought the galaxy far, far away was done with Adam Driver's Ben Solo (aka Kylo Ren), you were just as surprised as we were this week. Driver recently dropped a bombshell in an Associated Press interview: he and acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh had quietly been cooking up a Star Wars sequel focused on Ben Solo's post-The Rise of Skywalker journey, titled The Hunt for Ben Solo.
This wasn't just a casual chat over bantha milk. According to Driver, this project was two years in the making! He had been keen on doing another Star Wars film since 2021, and when Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy reached out, he was all in, provided it had "a great director and a great story." Enter Steven Soderbergh, known for his stylish and character-driven films like Ocean's Eleven and Logan Lucky (which also starred Driver).
Crafting a "Handmade and Character-Driven" Star Wars Story
Driver described the envisioned film as "handmade and character-driven," even drawing comparisons to the beloved The Empire Strikes Back, which he considers the "standard" for Star Wars Movies. Soderbergh, alongside screenwriters Rebecca Blunt (who also worked on Logan Lucky) and Scott Z. Burns, roughed out the story and penned a full script. It sounds like they weren't aiming for another explosion-heavy blockbuster, but a more personal, economical exploration of redemption and identity for Ben Solo.
"It was one of the coolest [expletive] scripts I had ever been a part of."
– Adam Driver, on 'The Hunt for Ben Solo' script
Imagine a Soderbergh-helmed Star Wars – that alone is enough to get any film buff excited. Driver spoke highly of Soderbergh, noting, "He lives his code, lives his ethics, doesn't compromise." This passion and unique vision clearly permeated the script, making Driver incredibly enthusiastic about the potential project.
Lucasfilm Loved It, Disney Said "No Way": The Executive Veto
Here's where the plot thickens and the Force gets a little murky. Driver and Soderbergh pitched The Hunt for Ben Solo to Lucasfilm bigwigs like Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Cary Beck. The reception? "They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it," Driver revealed to the Associated Press. Sounds promising, right?
But then, the script landed on the desks of Disney supremos Bob Iger and Alan Bergman. And that's where the hyperspace jump ended abruptly. "They said no," Driver recounted. "They didn't see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that."
Soderbergh himself later confirmed this unusual rejection, even posting on Bluesky that it was "a first" for Lucasfilm to have a completed script turned down by Disney executives. He admitted he "did not enjoy lying about the existence of THE HUNT FOR BEN SOLO, but it really did need to remain a secret…until now!" He later added, "I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I'm just sorry the fans won't get to see it."
The Fans Strike Back: A Banner Plane and Social Media Uproar
Once this news hit, the Star Wars fandom erupted! Fans, many of whom have a deep connection to Ben Solo's character and his complex redemption arc, were not about to take Disney's "no" lying down. The anger quickly coalesced into a full-blown campaign, taking inspiration from other fan movements (hello, Snyder Cut!).
In an incredible display of fan dedication, a plane was flown over Disney Studios in Burbank, California, on October 23, trailing a banner that boldly read: "SAVE #THEHUNTFORBENSOLO." Lianna Al Allaf, the fan who organized the aerial protest, told Collider that she hoped the stunt would show "the decision makers at Disney that the fans really do want this" and "how much the character of Ben Solo means to so many of us." Social media, of course, has been ablaze with discussions, theories, and pleas to Disney to reconsider.
The Force Dyad: A Clear Path to Ben Solo's Return?
Disney's main reason for rejecting the film was their inability to "see how Ben Solo was alive." This logic immediately struck many fans as odd, especially considering Star Wars' long history of character resurrections (Darth Maul, anyone?) and the events of The Rise of Skywalker itself.
Fans are quick to point to the "Force Dyad" introduced in the sequel trilogy as a prime candidate for a resurrection explanation. The unique and powerful connection shared between Rey and Ben Solo allowed them to communicate, share objects across vast distances, and even transfer life force. Remember how Ben Solo essentially resurrected Rey at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, sacrificing his own life in the process? Many argue that Rey, having grown stronger in the Force, could certainly find a way to reciprocate, even if it seemed to kill Ben initially. It wouldn't be as jarring as Palpatine's much-memed return (you know the one: "Somehow, Palpatine returned"). The Force Dyad presents a built-in, canon-friendly way to bring Ben Solo back that feels less like a narrative cheat and more like a consequence of their unique bond.
When Star Wars Deaths Feel Right: The Counter-Argument
While a significant portion of the fandom is clamoring for Ben Solo's return, it's worth noting that not everyone agrees. Some fans and critics argue that Ben Solo's death in The Rise of Skywalker was a fitting, even "perfect," conclusion to his character arc. They believe his sacrifice to save Rey echoed, and in some ways redeemed, the failures of his grandfather, Anakin Skywalker, who couldn't save Padmé. For these fans, bringing Ben Solo back diminishes the impact and meaning of his final heroic act.
They contend that while Star Wars is no stranger to resurrections (hello, Darth Maul!), some deaths, like Ben's and Kanan Jarrus's from Rebels, feel earned and provide emotional weight to the narrative. Undoing such a pivotal moment, even with a talented director like Soderbergh, could be seen as prioritizing content creation over thematic integrity. It's a tricky balance: giving fans more of what they love versus preserving the narrative stakes and character journeys that made them love it in the first place.
Not the First, Won't Be the Last: Other Lost Star Wars Projects
The rejection of The Hunt for Ben Solo isn't an isolated incident in the post-Disney acquisition Star Wars universe. Over the years, many exciting Star Wars film ideas from top-tier talent have been discussed and ultimately shelved. Reports suggest that even David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac) had conversations with Lucasfilm about directing a movie after Episode IX, though his condition for final cut ultimately proved to be a dealbreaker for Disney.
We've also seen the likes of Guillermo del Toro's potential Jabba the Hutt movie, Rian Johnson's proposed trilogy, and a project from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss all fall by the wayside. It highlights a recurring pattern of ambitious and potentially unique Star Wars visions being hindered by creative differences or corporate caution. While Disney has invested heavily in the franchise (buying Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012), they've often been criticized for playing it safe, especially on the big screen.
What's Next for the Galaxy Far, Far Away?
While the fate of The Hunt for Ben Solo hangs in the balance, Star Wars isn't slowing down. We've got Visions Volume 3 dropping on October 29, and The Mandalorian and Grogu movie set to hit the big screen next year. Plus, there's that Rey-focused film, announced in 2023, where Daisy Ridley is set to return and try to restore the Jedi Order. Though, rumors suggest even that one might be on hold for script approval.
The saga of The Hunt for Ben Solo has certainly ignited a passionate debate, showcasing the deep love and investment fans have in these characters and stories. Will Disney listen to the rallying cries and the flying banners? Or will Ben Solo's redemption story remain a "coolest [expletive] script" relegated to the archives of what-ifs? Only time will tell if the Force will awaken for Ben Solo once more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ben Solo and Star Wars' Future
Will The Hunt for Ben Solo ever be made? Currently, Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected the film's script, making its future uncertain. However, the strong fan campaign might prompt reconsideration. How did Ben Solo die in The Rise of Skywalker? After his redemption, Ben Solo sacrificed his life force to resurrect Rey, who had died fighting Emperor Palpatine. His body then faded, becoming one with the Force. Who was involved in pitching The Hunt for Ben Solo? Adam Driver (Ben Solo/Kylo Ren) and director Steven Soderbergh developed the story. Rebecca Blunt and Scott Z. Burns wrote the script. Lucasfilm executives Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Cary Beck were reportedly enthusiastic about the idea before it was rejected by Disney's top brass. What is the Force Dyad, and how could it bring Ben Solo back? The Force Dyad is a rare, powerful connection between two Force-users, introduced in The Rise of Skywalker with Rey and Ben Solo. It allowed them to connect across great distances and even transfer life force. Fans argue that Rey, having grown in power, could use this dyad connection to bring Ben back, much like he did for her.Sources
- The Guardian
- Deadline
- Collider
- Variety
- ScreenRant
- Polygon
- Gizmodo/io9
- GamesRadar+
- The A.V. Club