The Hunt for Ben Solo: Why Disney Rejected Adam Driver's Star Wars Film

Star Wars fans are buzzing after Adam Driver revealed a Ben Solo movie with Steven Soderbergh was nixed by Disney, leading to passionate pleas and real-world campaigns for its revival.

TL;DR

• Adam Driver and acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh developed a "Hunt for Ben Solo" movie set after The Rise of Skywalker.
• Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected the completed script, specifically questioning how Ben Solo could still be alive.
• Fans are actively campaigning for the film's revival, flying banners over Disney studios and placing billboards in NYC.

The Shocking Revelation of a Highly Anticipated Ben Solo Return

Alright, Star Wars fans, buckle up because the galaxy far, far away just got a whole lot more complicated – and a little heartbreaking. This week, we all learned about a secret project that could have been truly epic: "The Hunt for Ben Solo." Yes, you heard that right, a movie centered on Adam Driver's complex character, Ben Solo (aka Kylo Ren), after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. And get this: it was being developed by none other than the legendary director Steven Soderbergh! Driver himself called it "one of the coolest fucking scripts I had ever been a part of."

The news came out when Adam Driver spilled the beans in a recent interview. He revealed that he’d been talking about doing another Star Wars film since 2021 and always said, "With a great director and a great story, I’d be there in a second." Driver clearly loved playing Ben Solo and felt he had "unfinished business" with the character. So, he teamed up with Soderbergh, who’s known for films like Ocean's Eleven and Traffic, to bring this vision to life.

Behind the Scenes: A Collaborative Effort to Bring Ben Solo's Story Back

The project, tentatively titled "The Hunt for Ben Solo," would have picked up right after The Rise of Skywalker, exploring the mysterious resurrection and redemption of Ben Solo. Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt initially produced an outline, which then led to Scott Z. Burns being commissioned to write the full script. From all accounts, the creative team was super enthusiastic about it.

Driver confirmed that they presented this script to Lucasfilm, and guess what? Lucasfilm, including president Kathleen Kennedy, "loved the idea" and "totally understood our angle and why we were doing it." Sounds like a dream come true for fans, right? A character-driven Star Wars movie, crafted by an acclaimed director, with the star eager to return, and the franchise's creative heads on board. What could possibly go wrong?

The Unprecedented Rejection: Disney's "First" for a Completed Star Wars Script

Well, here's where things took a turn for the dramatic. Despite the love from Lucasfilm, the project hit a brick wall when it went up the corporate ladder. Driver revealed that when they took the script to Disney bigwigs Bob Iger (CEO) and Alan Bergman (executive), "they said no." Their reasoning? "They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that."

This rejection is pretty monumental, according to Soderbergh. He tapped his rarely-used social media to share a crucial detail: He asked Kathleen Kennedy if Lucasfilm had ever submitted a completed movie script for a greenlight to Disney and had it rejected. Her answer? "She said no, this was a first."

"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."

— Steven Soderbergh

This "first" rejection highlights a perceived "conservative-mindedness" at Disney when it comes to Star Wars projects, especially those that might challenge established endings. It suggests a fear of risk, possibly trying to play it safe with familiar, popular elements like The Mandalorian and Grogu, rather than venturing into more ambitious, character-focused territory.

Fans Unleash Their Passion: A Galactic Campaign to Save Ben Solo

As you can imagine, this news hit the Star Wars fandom like a Force lightning bolt. Social media erupted with speculation, frustration, and a passionate push for Disney to reconsider. Fans weren't just tweeting; they took their campaign to the skies and city streets!

Devoted followers actually arranged for an airplane to fly a banner reading "Save The Hunt for Ben Solo" over Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Lianna Al Allaf, a fan who commissioned the banner, expressed her hope, stating, "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."

And the aerial campaign wasn't all! A billboard also popped up at 1500 Broadway in New York City, near Times Square, displaying a powerful message: "For Adam. No one’s ever really gone. Hope lives. Ben is alive! #THBS." This grassroots effort truly shows the depth of attachment fans have to the character and the story potential they see.

The Great Debate: Could Ben Solo Actually Return from the Dead?

Disney's main reason for rejecting the film boiled down to one question: "How is Ben Solo alive?" This is a valid point, as Ben Solo seemingly sacrifices himself to save Rey at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, fading away as a redeemed Jedi. However, Star Wars canon is no stranger to resurrections, some more controversial than others!

Past Resurrections in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

• Emperor Palpatine: Famously, "somehow Palpatine returned" in The Rise of Skywalker, sparking significant debate among fans about the cheapening of character deaths.
• Darth Maul: Sliced in half at the end of The Phantom Menace, he returned in The Clone Wars and Rebels thanks to sheer dark side will and cybernetic legs.
• Asajj Ventress: Brought back through a ritual, proving that death can be a temporary state for Force-sensitives.
• Ahsoka Tano: Saved from certain death by Ezra Bridger via time travel through the World Between Worlds in Rebels.

So, there's precedent. And when it comes to Ben Solo, fans point to a key element introduced in the sequel trilogy: the Force Dyad. This rare, powerful bond between Rey and Kylo Ren allowed them to connect across vast distances, even passing objects to each other. Ben himself used this power to essentially resurrect Rey in The Rise of Skywalker, albeit at the cost of his own life.

The argument is that the Force Dyad could easily be the mechanism for Ben's return. Rey has no doubt grown in her power since then, and it wouldn't be a stretch for the narrative to suggest she could find a way to bring him back, perhaps even inadvertently. It offers a canonical path, unlike some other resurrections that felt more tacked on.

The Counter Argument: Why Ben Solo's Death Was Meaningful

On the flip side, many fans and critics argue that bringing Ben Solo back would fundamentally undermine the importance of his sacrifice. His death mirrored his grandfather Anakin Skywalker's inability to save Padmé, but with a crucial difference: Kylo chose his love for Rey over himself, achieving true redemption and becoming one with the Force alongside Luke, Leia, and Anakin.

For these fans, his death was a perfect, impactful ending to a complex arc. Undoing it, even with a great director, could feel like a move to simply generate more content, rather than respecting the story's integrity. It's a tricky balance between fan desire for more of a beloved character and maintaining the narrative weight of their journey.

A Long History of Scrapped Star Wars Projects: Ben Solo Is Not Alone

If there's one thing Star Wars has a lot of, it's cool ideas that never made it to the big screen. The "Hunt for Ben Solo" isn't the first, and it probably won't be the last, to bite the dust. The franchise has a rich, albeit sometimes frustrating, history of projects being developed and then shelved.

Just think about some of these:

• David Benioff and D.B. Weiss Trilogy: The Game of Thrones creators were set to write and produce a trilogy focused on the rise of the Jedi Order, but that was scrapped.
• J.D. Dillard's Film: The director of Sleight and Devotion was tapped for a Star Wars movie, but plans changed by 2022, and it was dropped.
• Rian Johnson's Trilogy: Announced in 2017 after The Last Jedi, its status has been consistently unclear, with Johnson himself saying he's still open to it, but Lucasfilm seemingly unprioritizing it.
• Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron: Originally announced with much fanfare, its production status has been in limbo.
• Taika Waititi's Film: Still on the books, but details remain sparse and its timeline uncertain.

It seems Disney is currently focusing on a forward-looking slate, with projects like Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's film about the new Jedi Order (with Daisy Ridley returning as Rey), James Mangold's Jedi origins film, and the upcoming The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) and Star Wars: Starfighter (2027) films. While these are exciting, it doesn't quite fill the void left by a character-driven Soderbergh film.

The Unsung Battle: The Quest for a Ben Solo Action Figure

Beyond the cinematic fate of "The Hunt for Ben Solo," there's another, perhaps smaller but equally passionate, grievance among fans: the lack of a proper Ben Solo action figure! Star Wars is famous for its merchandise, with figures for almost every background character imaginable. Yet, Ben Solo, a major character in the sequel trilogy, has been largely ignored by Hasbro's main lines like the Vintage Collection and Black Series.

Sure, there's a Funko Pop, but collectors crave a detailed action figure to stand alongside their Kylo Ren, Rey, and other sequel trilogy heroes and villains. Fans argue that with so many Kylo Ren figures available, it wouldn't be hard to create a Ben Solo version by simply changing the head sculpt and body. It feels like another slight against a character who, despite his controversial arc, has a significant legacy within the Star Wars universe as the son of Leia and Han, and nephew of Luke.

What's Next for Ben Solo's Legacy in the Star Wars Galaxy?

So, where does this leave us? "The Hunt for Ben Solo" is officially shelved, a completed script rejected in what was a "first" for Lucasfilm under Disney. While Disney focuses on new directions and safer bets, the passionate fan campaigns for Ben Solo's return highlight a significant appetite for his story to continue.

Whether this fan movement can sway the corporate giants remains to be seen (history suggests it's a tough fight), but one thing is clear: Ben Solo, much like his grandfather Anakin Skywalker, continues to spark intense debate and loyalty. His journey, even in its truncated form, has left an indelible mark on the Star Wars saga, and for many, his story isn't quite over yet.

For now, we can only imagine the Soderbergh-directed, Adam Driver-led adventure we almost got. And if you want to dive back into the existing Star Wars universe, remember you can stream all the Movies and shows with a Disney+ subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Hunt for Ben Solo What was "The Hunt for Ben Solo" about? It was a proposed Star Wars movie, set after The Rise of Skywalker, focusing on Ben Solo's redemption and mysterious resurrection. It was described as a more character-driven and personal story. Who was involved in creating "The Hunt for Ben Solo"? Adam Driver was set to reprise his role as Ben Solo/Kylo Ren. The project was developed by Driver and acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh, with Rebecca Blunt providing an outline and Scott Z. Burns writing the full script. Why did Disney reject "The Hunt for Ben Solo"? Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected the completed script because they "didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive" after his apparent sacrifice in The Rise of Skywalker. Could Ben Solo realistically return in Star Wars canon? Many fans argue yes, citing the Force Dyad established between Rey and Kylo Ren in the sequel trilogy. Ben himself used this power to resurrect Rey, suggesting the Dyad could be used to explain his return within existing canon, despite his death at the end of The Rise of Skywalker.

Sources

• A.V. Club (Referenced articles: "Steven Soderbergh says getting his completed Star Wars script rejected was a 'first' for Disney", "Disney passed on a Star Wars movie from Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh", "Kylo Ren fans have already flown a 'Save #TheHuntForBenSolo' banner over Disney")
• Variety (Referenced article: "'Star Wars' Fans Launch Billboard Campaign to Save 'The Hunt for Ben Solo': 'No One’s Ever Really Gone'")
• CinemaBlend (Referenced article: "Adam Driver Spoke About His Scrapped Ben Solo Star Wars Film, And It Sounds Like Another Big Screen Project That Never Was")
• Collider (Referenced article: "After Adam Driver's Revelation, Fans Fly "Save The Hunt for Ben Solo" Banner Over Disney Studios")
• The Guardian (Referenced article: "This isn’t the spin-off you’re looking for: why Disney was right to ditch Adam Driver’s Ben Solo movie")
• ScreenRant (Referenced article: "Star Wars Has An Obvious Way To Bring Ben Solo Back After The Rise Of Skywalker")
• Polygon (Referenced article: "Disney passed on an Adam Driver Star Wars sequel, but Kylo Ren’s death felt right")
• io9 (Referenced article: "If We Can’t Get a Ben Solo Movie, Can We at Least Get His Action Figure?", "Report: ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’ Had a Greenlit Script Before Disney Killed It")
• Cinemac (Referenced article: "Adam Driver Admits He Wanted to Continue Playing His Big Sci-Fi Villain, but Disney Put a Definitive Stop")