The Star Wars franchise, under Disney’s stewardship since its $4.05 billion acquisition in 2012, has seen a slew of ambitious projects fall by the wayside, including high-profile casualties like Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron, a Boba Fett solo film, and even whispers of a Jabba the Hutt-centered story. These unrealized ventures have long fueled speculation about missed opportunities, but a newly revealed cancellation has struck a particularly resonant chord. Adam Driver, the acclaimed actor behind the sequel trilogy’s conflicted Ben Solo, has disclosed that Disney rejected a promising spinoff centered on his character, dashing hopes for a project that could have redefined the saga’s narrative trajectory.
The proposed film, tentatively titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, emerged from a two-year collaboration between Driver and celebrated director Steven Soderbergh, known for Traffic and Erin Brockovich. The screenplay, described by Driver as “one of the coolest scripts” he had ever encountered, aimed to explore Ben Solo’s post-The Rise of Skywalker journey, navigating the aftermath of his redemption and grappling with the weight of his past as Kylo Ren. Driver’s enthusiasm for revisiting the role was palpable, as he explained in a recent interview with AP News: “I always was interested in doing another Star Wars,” he said. “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.”
The project gained significant traction at Lucasfilm, with president Kathleen Kennedy championing the concept early on. After refining the script, Driver and Soderbergh presented it to the studio, receiving glowing feedback. “We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it,” Driver recounted. The story leaned into the franchise’s mystical elements to address Solo’s survival, offering a narrative that balanced canon fidelity with bold creative risks. However, when the pitch reached Disney’s top executives—CEO Bob Iger and co-chairman Alan Bergman—the response was a decisive rejection. “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,” Driver stated, signaling the project’s abrupt end.
Soderbergh, reflecting on the unproduced film, expressed a mix of creative fulfillment and regret. “I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it,” he said in a the interview. The cancellation underscores the challenges Disney faces in managing the Star Wars universe, where narrative continuity and fan expectations often clash with corporate decision-making. The decision to pass on The Hunt for Ben Solo comes at a time when the franchise is pivoting toward new stories, moving away from the Skywalker saga to explore uncharted corners of the galaxy.
As Disney charts the franchise’s future, two upcoming theatrical releases are poised to carry the torch. The Mandalorian & Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau, will bring the beloved Disney+ series to the big screen on May 22, 2026, following the adventures of Din Djarin and his endearing companion, Grogu, in a post-Return of the Jedi setting.
Meanwhile, Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, promises a thrilling dive into space combat inspired by the classic video game series, with a release planned for May 28, 2027. These projects signal Disney’s intent to broaden the Star Wars universe, even as the loss of The Hunt for Ben Solo leaves a lingering sense of what might have been.
