Director Steven Soderbergh has described Disney’s decision to cancel his Star Wars movie The Hunt for Ben Solo as “Insane” in a recent interview. As I’m sure you are already aware Soderbergh worked for years developing a script for this movie alongside star Adam Driver, who would return as the titular Ben Solo.
Soderbergh was commenting on the cancellation again, this time post-Kathleen Kennedy’s exit interview as president of Lucasfilm. Here’s what Soderbergh recently told BK Magazine.
Transcript courtesy of EW,
“We were all frustrated,” Soderbergh said of the small group that worked on the project. “You know, that was two and a half years of free work for me and Adam and [screenwriter] Rebecca Blunt.”
‘Soderbergh added that prior to Driver revealing the project’s existence in an interview last year, he warned the actor not to “speculate” about why the film was axed — and to merely share the little information they were given.’
“I said, ‘Look, do not editorialize or speculate about the why. Just say what happened, because all we know is what happened,'” Soderbergh recalled. “The stated reason was ‘We don’t think Ben Solo could be alive.’ And that was all we were told. And so there’s nothing to do about it, you know, except move on.”
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‘He added, “I’d kind of made the movie in my head, and just felt bad that nobody else was going to get to see it.”‘
‘Soderbergh said he was surprised when the plug was pulled before budget and other production details were ever discussed. “I thought the conversation was strictly going to be a practical one where they go, ‘What is this going to cost?'” he explained. “And I had a really good answer for that. But it never even got to that point. It’s insane. We’re all very disappointed.”‘
It’s a strange situation this one. In fact I don’t ever recall a rejected movie idea getting this much publicity previously. I guess like most fans I share the concern Disney had in resurrecting another dead character. However, at the same time, killing Ben Solo was a stupid movie In ROTS and if they did find a good way to rectify that, than it would make sense. Driver’s Ben Solo was after all the most bankable star from the rather poor sequel trilogy.
Could a change in Disney’s leadership signal a change in heart? I guess there’s also a change in leadership at Lucasfilm itself to factor in to any decision. For now though, it seems like Ben Solo will remain dead.
What do you think of Soderbergh’s comments on the cancelled The Hunt for Ben Solo Star Wars movie? Thoughts below.
