Steven Soderbergh has expressed deep frustration over Disney's rejection of his proposed Star Wars sequel, The Hunt for Ben Solo, which would have starred Adam Driver. The project, developed for over two years with Lucasfilm's support, was scrapped because executives doubted Ben Solo's survival. Fans have since launched campaigns to revive it.
Steven Soderbergh, the Oscar-winning director, recently opened up about his disappointment regarding the unmade Star Wars film titled The Hunt for Ben Solo. In an interview with BK Mag, Soderbergh revealed that he had anticipated spending the next two years of his life on the project, which aimed to continue the story of Ben Solo, portrayed by Adam Driver as Kylo Ren in the sequel trilogy. Ben Solo, the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa and grandson of Anakin Skywalker, underwent a redemption arc before his death in The Rise of Skywalker (2019), but Soderbergh and Driver believed the character had more to explore. Development spanned two and a half years of unpaid work involving Soderbergh, Driver, and writer Scott Burns, with Lucasfilm executives including Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Cary Beck expressing support for the idea and script. Despite this backing, Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman rejected the project without discussing budget or other practicalities, citing the reason: “We don’t think Ben Solo could be alive.” Soderbergh described the decision as “insane” and noted that the conversation never progressed to cost considerations, where he had prepared answers. He also shared on BlueSky that he had visualized the entire film in his mind and felt bad that others would not see it. In her Lucasfilm exit interview with Deadline, Kennedy called the script “great” and placed the project “on the back burner,” suggesting it could be possible if someone took a risk. Adam Driver first disclosed the project's existence in an October 2025 Associated Press interview, stating he had been interested in returning since 2021 after Kennedy reached out. He praised the script as the “standard” for a Star Wars movie, likening it to the character-driven style of The Empire Strikes Back, and confirmed Lucasfilm's enthusiasm before Disney's veto. The revelation sparked fan activism, including a plane flying a banner reading “SAVE #THEHUNTFORBENSOLO” over Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Daisy Ridley, who played Rey opposite Driver, expressed surprise and appreciation for the positive fan rally in an IGN interview, noting the character's popularity. Soderbergh emphasized sticking to facts without speculation on the rejection's reasons, advising Driver to do the same when going public.
