A planned Star Wars movie that would have brought back Ben Solo, the beloved character played by Adam Driver, was unexpectedly cancelled by Disney executives despite full support from Lucasfilm’s leadership. The project, titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, was developed over two years with an Academy Award-winning director and a completed script. This rejection marks the first time Disney has ever turned down a fully developed Lucasfilm project, raising questions about the future of Star Wars storytelling.
The Project That Had Everything
The Hunt for Ben Solo was far more than just an early concept or pitch. By the time it reached Disney executives, the project was fully formed with a finalized script, proposed start date, final budget, and procedures to begin preparation and staffing. Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh had joined the project alongside Adam Driver, who was enthusiastic about returning to the Star Wars universe.
The film’s script was written by Scott Z. Burns, known for his work on Contagion and The Bourne Ultimatum. In a stunning revelation, reports indicate Burns was paid more than any other screenwriter in Lucasfilm history to write the script for The Hunt for Ben Solo, with some sources specifying an amount over $3 million. This was particularly remarkable for a project that never came to fruition.
Beyond Soderbergh and Driver, the project had strong backing from the entire Lucasfilm leadership team. President Kathleen Kennedy, Executive Vice President Carrie Beck, and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni all supported the film and were prepared to move forward with production.
Steven Soderbergh noted on Bluesky: “I asked Kathy Kennedy if Lucasfilm had ever turned in a finished movie script for greenlight to Disney and had it rejected. She said no — this was a first.”
Disney’s Decision to Stop the Project
Despite Lucasfilm’s enthusiasm, when the project was presented to Disney CEO Bob Iger and co-chairman Alan Bergman, it was rejected. The primary reason given was that Disney executives didn’t understand how Ben Solo could be alive after the character’s death at the end of The Rise of Skywalker.
According to sources close to the project, the real reason for halting the film may have been “politically motivated” and coincided with Bob Iger’s succession plan at Disney. The rejection occurred at the final approval stage, after Lucasfilm had followed the unusual process of having the film “ready to shoot” before presenting it to Disney.
Adam Driver expressed his disappointment in an interview, stating: “We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. 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.”
What the Film Would Have Explored
While specific plot details remain limited, reports confirm that The Hunt for Ben Solo would have indeed revived Ben Solo following his death in The Rise of Skywalker. The story would have made Ben’s “whereabouts become the central mystery” of the film, though it remains unclear whether Rey Skywalker and other established characters would have appeared.
The film was intended to be a smaller, character-driven narrative in the style of The Empire Strikes Back, focusing on themes of redemption. Adam Driver described the project as “really cool” and noted that he was sorry fans wouldn’t get to see it.
Fan Reaction to the Cancellation
News of the cancellation has sparked significant reaction from Star Wars fans across social media platforms. Many have expressed disappointment and are calling for Disney to reverse its decision.
Fans have taken to social media to voice their support, with some accounts arguing that Star Wars is “about wrestling with the dark and the chance for redemption,” making the project a perfect fit for the franchise. Other fans have pointed out that this is the first time the fandom has been united in a long while, and that such unity “shouldn’t be swept under the rug.”
The campaign became tangible when a group of passionate fans paid for a plane to fly over Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, with a banner reading “Save The Hunt for Ben Solo.” This visible protest demonstrated the depth of fan interest in seeing the project revived.
The Bigger Picture for Star Wars
The rejection of The Hunt for Ben Solo signals a potentially significant shift in Disney’s approach to Star Wars storytelling. With Lucasfilm’s top leadership—including Kennedy, Filoni, and Beck—fully supporting the project, Disney’s refusal suggests increased oversight from the highest levels of the company.
This decision comes at a time when Disney appears to be becoming more risk-averse with its major franchises. After a segment of fans criticized The Last Jedi, Lucasfilm changed direction for The Rise of Skywalker. When Solo underperformed at the box office, the company moved away from standalone films. More recently, The Acolyte was cancelled after one season despite being a bold new series.
The situation raises questions about whether Disney’s leadership is prioritizing playing it safe over creative risk-taking in the Star Wars universe. With the studio having no Star Wars films released in six years, and several upcoming projects in development, the cancellation of such a well-developed film has left many wondering about the franchise’s future direction.
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