According to the actor himself, Adam Driver and director Steven Soderbergh were developing a Ben Solo Star Wars sequel, but Disney rejected it. I’ll also point out that this project was rumored by two good sources and shared here back when it was still in development.
Speaking with AP News, Driver opens up about the project he and Soderbergh spent years developing.
‘In a lengthy conversation that often touched on Driver’s concerns about current Hollywood trends, he revealed that he and Steven Soderbergh spent two years developing a “Star Wars” film that was ultimately nixed by the Walt Disney Co.’
“I always was interested in doing another ‘Star Wars,’” says Driver, who starred as Kylo Ren in the trilogy kicked off by “The Force Awakens.” “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.”
‘Driver says he took a concept to Soderbergh for a film that would take place after 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.”’
‘Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt outlined a story that the group then pitched to Kennedy, Lucasfilm vice president Cary Beck and Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni. They were interested, so the filmmakers then pulled in Scott Z. Burns to write a script. Driver calls the result “one of the coolest (expletive) scripts I had ever been a part of.”’
Star Wars: The Hunt For Ben Solo
“We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it,” Driver says. “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.”
“It was called ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’ and it was really cool,” adds Driver. “But it is no more, so I can finally talk about it.”
‘Soderbergh, in a statement, said: “I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it.”’
‘Representatives for Disney and Lucasfilm declined comment.’
So, just to be clear. The plan was to have a movie that brought back Ben Solo somehow. Lucasfilm were keen, but Disney execs said no. There’s reason for saying no, was that it was silly to bring Ben Solo back. Though, Driver thought it a great story.
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Now, let me be clear on my opinion. Ben Solo is the best thing about the sequel trilogy and they should not have killed him. However, they did and I am not sure Star Wars can handle another, somehow (insert character) returned from the dead.
Palpatine’s return was handled so poorly it actually demeaned Anakin Skywalker’s arc completion in Return of the Jedi. That, was absolutley unforgivable in my book. The Rise of Skywalker got everything wrong, from start to end it’s the worst Star Wars movie ever made. Frankly, I doubt the franchise will ever recover from it to return its previous levels of popularity.
Put it this way, I’ve not read this script (of course), but if I was given it, it would have to blow me away. There would have to be really good reasons, (without massive amounts of new made up Force lore), to bring Solo back. Or, like Iger and co, I’d probably have said no as well.
None of this is Drivers fault though. In principal, if it somehow was made to work, I would enjoy seeing more of Ben Solo. I just don’t see that happening, certainly not now it’s dead. Though many online fans are furious and suddenly seem to think this is a great idea. I’m less sure it would have been but I also accept I don’t see The Mandalorian and Grogu as the next step to bring back Star Wars. I see it as a low budget money generator based on TV success. Though, there are plans afoot and Starfighter remains a big question mark knowing as little as we do.
What do you think of Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh developing a Ben Solo Star Wars sequel? What do you think of Disney rejecting it? Thoughts below.

