The Kylo Ren Movie That Almost Was: Adam Driver & Soderbergh's Scrapped Star Wars Sequel

Big news from a galaxy far, far away! Adam Driver recently dropped a bombshell: he had major plans for a Ben Solo comeback in the Star Wars universe, teaming up with Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh for a sequel Lucasfilm was totally onboard with. But, in a twist that's got fans buzzing, Disney ultimately shut the whole project down.

Quick Look: Everything You Need to Know About This Lost Star Wars Film

• Adam Driver and acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh developed a direct sequel to The Rise of Skywalker, tentatively titled "The Hunt for Ben Solo."
• Lucasfilm leadership, including Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni, were reportedly enthusiastic about the pitch and the script.
• Despite Lucasfilm's approval, Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected the project, stating they "didn't see how Ben Solo was alive" after his cinematic sacrifice.

A Shocking Revelation from Adam Driver About His Star Wars Character

It's official: Adam Driver, who brought the complex and conflicted Kylo Ren (aka Ben Solo) to life across the Star Wars sequel trilogy, wasn't quite ready to say goodbye. Just recently, Driver revealed in interviews that he spent two years developing a standalone sequel film, a direct continuation of Ben Solo’s story after the events of 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. This wasn’t just a passing thought; it was a fully fleshed-out idea with some serious Hollywood firepower behind it.

Driver had always been open to returning, telling the Associated Press, "I always was interested in doing another Star Wars. I had been talking about doing another one since 2021. 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." And it sounds like he found both the director and the story he was looking for.

The Star-Studded Team Behind "The Hunt for Ben Solo"

To bring his vision for Ben Solo's return to life, Driver enlisted the help of none other than Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh. If you're familiar with Soderbergh's work, you know he's a master of diverse genres, from the heist thrills of Ocean's 11 and the gripping drama of Traffic to the pandemic foresight of Contagion. His involvement alone signals a project with significant creative ambition and a distinctive approach.

Together, Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt (known for her work on Soderbergh's Logan Lucky) crafted the initial story outline. The creative team then brought in Scott Z. Burns, a frequent Soderbergh collaborator who wrote films like The Report, to pen the actual screenplay. Driver couldn't praise the script enough, calling it "one of the coolest (expletive) scripts I had ever been a part of." Imagine a Star Wars film with that kind of pedigree behind the camera!

From Lucasfilm's Love to Disney's Dismissal: The Ultimate Rejection

The journey of "The Hunt for Ben Solo" through the corporate layers of Lucasfilm and Disney is where things get really interesting – and, for fans, a bit heartbreaking. Driver, Soderbergh, Blunt, and Burns first presented their meticulously developed script to the key players at Lucasfilm: President Kathleen Kennedy, Vice President Cary Beck, and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni. And guess what? They loved it!

"We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it," Driver explained. This is a crucial detail, suggesting the creative minds deeply embedded in the Star Wars universe saw the potential and artistic merit in bringing Ben Solo back. However, the path to the big screen runs through higher corporate channels. When the team took their compelling pitch to Disney CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman, the answer was a swift and definitive "no." Their reasoning? "They didn't see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that."

"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."

"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, on his interest and the film's rejection

The Star Wars "Death" Dilemma: Can Anyone Truly Stay Gone?

The irony of Disney's rejection of "The Hunt for Ben Solo" based on Ben's death is certainly not lost on fans. The Star Wars franchise has a long and storied history of bringing characters back from seemingly permanent demises. Just think about it:

• Darth Maul: Famously sliced in half in The Phantom Menace, only to return years later in animated series and films, stapled back together and more menacing than ever.
• Emperor Palpatine: Thrown down a reactor shaft in the second Death Star in Return of the Jedi, yet "somehow Palpatine returned" for The Rise of Skywalker, a plot point that became a meme unto itself.
• Boba Fett: Presumed dead after a dive into the Sarlacc pit in Return of the Jedi, only to crawl out and lead his own Disney+ series.
• Ahsoka Tano: Saved from certain death by time travel via the World Between Worlds in Star Wars Rebels.

Given these precedents, many are scratching their heads at Disney's seemingly rigid stance on Ben Solo's fate. While his sacrifice to save Rey at the end of The Rise of Skywalker was impactful, Star Wars lore offers numerous avenues for creative resurrection or post-death narratives, even as a Force ghost or in a different plane of existence. The decision highlights a creative clash between what the storytellers within Lucasfilm and the talent (Driver, Soderbergh) envisioned, and the ultimate corporate gatekeepers at Disney.

Imagining What Could Have Been: A Character-Driven Sequel for Ben Solo

So, what kind of movie was "The Hunt for Ben Solo" destined to be? Driver offered some tantalizing clues. He described the film as "handmade and character-driven," even comparing its spirit to 1980's critically acclaimed The Empire Strikes Back, which he called "the standard of what those Movies were." This suggests a more intimate, focused story, perhaps exploring Ben Solo's continued journey of redemption, his inner turmoil, and what it truly means to be a Force user torn between light and shadow. After his poignant sacrifice, a film delving into the aftermath and the struggle to exist post-redemption could have offered a rich narrative tapestry.

Soderbergh himself expressed his regret, saying in a statement to the AP, "I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it." It's a sentiment echoed by many fans who are now left to wonder about the potential of this lost cinematic gem. A Soderbergh-directed, Adam Driver-led Star Wars film, focusing on one of the sequel trilogy's most compelling characters, could have offered a fresh, mature perspective on the saga.

The Future of Star Wars on the Big Screen After This Missed Opportunity

While we might not get to see "The Hunt for Ben Solo," the Star Wars cinematic universe isn't exactly slowing down. There are several exciting projects on the horizon that fans can look forward to:

• The Mandalorian and Grogu: Picking up from the beloved Disney+ series, this film stars Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin, with Sigourney Weaver joining the cast as a New Republic colonel and Jeremy Allen White as Rotta the Hutt. It's directed by Jon Favreau and is slated for release on May 22, 2026.
• Star Wars: Starfighter: Directed by Shawn Levy and set to star Ryan Gosling, this film is scheduled to open in theaters on May 28, 2027.
• Rey's New Jedi Order Film: Directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, this highly anticipated movie will see the return of Daisy Ridley as Rey, focusing on her efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order.
• Origins of the Force Film: James Mangold (known for Logan and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) is set to direct a film exploring the ancient origins of the Force itself.
• Simon Kinberg's Trilogy: X-Men filmmaker Simon Kinberg also has a Star Wars trilogy in various stages of development.

So, while the dream of a Ben Solo sequel with Soderbergh and Driver is now officially a "what if," the Force is still strong with many other cinematic adventures headed our way. It just goes to show that even in the vast Star Wars universe, some stories, no matter how cool, sometimes stay in the realm of imagination.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Scrapped Ben Solo Movie

What was the rejected Adam Driver Star Wars movie called?

The proposed Star Wars sequel starring Adam Driver and directed by Steven Soderbergh was tentatively titled "The Hunt for Ben Solo."

Why was "The Hunt for Ben Solo" ultimately rejected by Disney?

According to Adam Driver, Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected the project because "they didn't see how Ben Solo was alive" after his death in The Rise of Skywalker, despite Lucasfilm's approval of the script.

Are there any new Star Wars movies confirmed for release soon?

Yes, two films are confirmed with release dates: The Mandalorian and Grogu on May 22, 2026, and Star Wars: Starfighter on May 28, 2027. Several other films, including a Rey-focused movie and an origins-of-the-Force story, are also in development.

Sources

• IGN Daily Fix
• Deadline
• Polygon
• Variety
• No Film School
• Los Angeles Times
• Forbes
• GamesRadar+