Director Steven Soderbergh is lastly breaking his silence on “The Hunt for Ben Solo.” The undertaking was formally introduced by Adam Driver final yr. The “Star Wars” actor revealed that he and Soderbergh had labored on the undertaking for about two years earlier than it was scrapped by high Disney execs, who didn’t perceive how his character, Ben Solo, may nonetheless be alive after the occasions of 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.”
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Steven Soderbergh Breaks Silence On Scrapped Ben Solo ‘Star Wars’ Film
The sequel trilogy kicked off with 2015’s “The Drive Awakens,” by which Adam Driver performed the villainous Kylo Ren. He continued the position in 2017’s “The Final Jedi,” however was ultimately redeemed in 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.” Sadly, he gave his life power to Rey (Daisy Ridley) after defeating Emperor Palpatine with the intention to carry her again to life, and seemingly light into the Drive himself.
Though Lucasfilm permitted the thought, Disney executives later pulled the plug, saying they didn’t perceive how Ben Solo may nonetheless be alive. In a brand new interview with BK Magazine, the Oscar-winning filmmaker stated, “It was no shock” to listen to that former Lucasfilm exec Kathleen Kennedy was annoyed by the movie’s cancellation throughout her exit interview.
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Soderbergh Stated He Put In Over Two Years Of ‘Free Work’
“We have been all annoyed,” Soderbergh stated. “You realize, that was two and a half years of free work for me and Adam and [writer] Rebecca Blunt. When Adam and I mentioned him speaking about it publicly, I stated, ‘Look, don’t editorialize or speculate concerning the why. Simply say what occurred, as a result of all we all know is what occurred.’ The said purpose was, ‘We don’t suppose Ben Solo might be alive.’ And that was all we have been informed. And so there’s nothing to do about it, you already know, besides transfer on.”
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“I’d sort of made the film in my head, and simply felt unhealthy that no person else was going to get to see it,” he continued. “I assumed the dialog was strictly going to be a sensible one—the place they go, what is that this going to price? And I had a very good reply for that. But it surely by no means even received to that time. It’s insane. We’re all very dissatisfied.”
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Adam Driver Revealed The Film’s Existence In October 2025
In October 2025, followers have been shocked to listen to Adam Driver reveal that the film had been within the works when he was selling his newest movie, “Father Mom Sister Brother,” in an interview with the Related Press.
“I all the time was fascinated with doing one other ‘Star Wars,’” Driver stated. “I had been speaking about doing one other one since 2021. Kathleen (Kennedy) had reached out. I all the time stated: With an important director and an important story, I’d be there in a second. I beloved that character and beloved taking part in him.”
Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt outlined a narrative that was pitched to Kennedy, Lucasfilm vice chairman Cary Beck, and Lucasfilm chief inventive officer Dave Filoni. Scott Z. Burns was introduced in to jot down the script, which Driver referred to as “one of many coolest (expletive) scripts I had ever been part of.”
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Adam Driver Claims Lucasfilm ‘Cherished The Concept’
“We offered the script to Lucasfilm. They beloved the thought. They completely understood our angle and why we have been doing it,” Driver says. “We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, they usually stated no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that.”
“It was referred to as ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo,’ and it was actually cool,” he added. “However it’s no extra, so I can lastly speak about it.” Though he didn’t reveal a lot of the movie’s plot, he did emphasize that it was going to be a character-driven movie alongside the strains of “The Empire Strikes Again.”
“We wished to be judicial about tips on how to spend cash and be economical with it, and do it for lower than most however in the identical spirit of what these films are, which is handmade and character-driven,” Driver says. “‘Empire Strikes Again’ being, for my part, the usual of what these films have been. However he’s, to me, one in every of my favourite administrators of all time. He lives his code, lives his ethics, doesn’t compromise.”
On the time, Soderbergh launched his personal assertion, saying, “I actually loved making the film in my head. I’m simply sorry the followers gained’t get to see it.”
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Daisy Ridley Feedback On ‘The Hunt For Ben Solo’
Following a fan marketing campaign that concerned getting a airplane to fly a banner studying “Save ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’” over Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, Daisy Ridley was requested to weigh in together with her ideas on the cancelled movie.
“I knew a bit of it. I heard rumblings,” Ridley informed IGN final December. “I’ve a number of associates who’re crew, so issues all the time journey like that. However, whoa! When the story got here out, no, I used to be like, ‘Oh, my God!’ And it was him that stated it, proper? It was humorous as a result of, like, ‘Oh, wow, Adam is saying it,’ and that’s the massive shock of the yr.”
“I do love when there’s a collective of positivity,” Ridley added, “The way in which the web appears to have rallied to attempt to get it to occur. It’s implausible for us all. It’s good for us to all be united about one thing in a very optimistic manner. Clearly, everybody is aware of he was a very fashionable character, nevertheless it was additionally pretty to suppose, ‘Wow, folks actually, actually care and need this.’ I simply… I prefer it.”
Though “The Hunt for Ben Solo” might by no means make it to the silver display, “The Mandalorian & Grogu” will likely be launched in theaters on Could 22, 2026, making it the primary “Star Wars” film to hit theaters since 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker.”
