The “Star Wars” universe is littered with projects that never made it off the ground for countless different reasons. Adam Driver, who played Ben Solo/Kylo Ren, revealed what Steven Soderbergh’s secret project for the galaxy far, far away was. Apparently, the two had been working on a film called “The Hunt for Ben Solo.” And after a promising pitch to creatives at Lucasfilm, Disney top brass cancelled it.
“[It was] one of the coolest fucking scripts I had ever been a part of,” Driver said. “But it is no more, so I can finally talk about it.”
“I always was interested in doing another ‘Star Wars,’” Driver told the Associated Press. “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 developed an idea for a film that would take place after “The Rise of Skywalker,” and took it to Soderbergh. The filmmaker and Rebecca Blunt outlined a story, and the trio pitched to Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, Vice President Cary Beck, and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni. After the studio expressed interest, Scott Z. Burns wrote a script for “The Hunt for Ben Solo.”
So, What Happened to the Movie?
“We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea,” Driver explained. “They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it. 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.”
(Editor’s note: We just want to remind everyone about the now iconic line in “Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker” that launched a thousand memes. “Somehow, Palpatine returned.”)
“I really enjoyed making the movie in my head,” Soderbergh said of the project. “I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it.”
“Star Wars” Fans Respond
Following the revelation of the project and it’s cancellation, fans have been campaigning to get it made. Because, let’s face it, a Ben Solo movie directed by Soderbergh does sound really, REALLY cool.
On October 23rd, Lianna Al Allaf commissioned a banner that read “Save The Hunt for Ben Solo” to fly over Disney Studios in Burbank, CA.
“I really hope this banner shows the decision makers at Disney that the fans really do want this,” Allaf said. “I hope this banner shows just how much the character of Ben Solo means to so many of us, and that the fans really do want this movie.”
As derisive as the new films are, there is no debate Ben Solo is by far one of the most popular modern characters. Pair that with Driver’s dedicated fans, “Star Wars” fans’ penchant for being extra (stated without judgment), there was no way this wasn’t going to escalate.
Escalate, it Has
On October 25th, the Save Ben Solo campaign hit the streets of New York. A digital billboard went up at 1500 Broadway, between 43rd and 44th, above Carlo’s Bake Shop. “For Adam. No one’s ever really gone. Hope lives. Ben is alive! #THBS” appears on screen every 28 minutes.
B.D. Neagle revealed themselves to be the person behind the billboard. “I’m just a fan who thought Ben’s story wasn’t finished,” she told Collider. “I wanted to do what I could to support the fandom and everyone attached to The Hunt for Ben Solo. The intent was to show Disney this is what fans actually want. ‘No one’s ever really gone’ I believe, says it all. If they could bring back Palpatine with one line, there are plenty of ways Ben could return that already fit into Star Wars lore.”
“What makes this fight for Ben Solo different is that we know a finished script exists,” Neagle said. “There was a director attached, and Adam Driver himself had been looking for a way to tell Ben’s story. It’s no longer simply wanting a character to return. It’s about fighting for a story that was ready to be told. We know it’s out there, and because of that, we’re not giving up. We want Disney to know they made a mistake. It’s not often the Star Wars fandom agrees and that alone should tell them something. Ben Solo/Kylo Ren is so popular that fan fiction based on his relationship with Rey has become New York Times best sellers, leading to movie deals. I’m not sure they understand the power this character has.”
The Saga Continues
In a less flashy but in no way less poignant way, some fans are going gorilla. Missing person posters for Ben Solo have popped up around Disney Studios.
Some say Driver intentionally revealed information about the project to cause this reaction from fans. Much like how early test footage for a live-action “Deadpool” project was “leaked” accidentally on purpose, which led to the film getting made due to overwhelming positive response. Driver could just be a frustrated creator venting about a project that didn’t happen. Either way, we hope Disney is listening.
We’ll keep you posted on updates about “The Hunt for Ben Solo” and other “Star Wars” projects as they develop.
