Thescreescore – Adam Driver, known for his portrayal of Kylo Ren (Ben Solo) in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, recently revealed that Disney rejected his pitch for a sequel centered on his character. The concept, which Driver developed over two years, aimed to explore Ben Solo’s story beyond The Rise of Skywalker, but ultimately failed to gain traction with top executives.
In an interview, Driver explained that the idea for a Ben Solo-focused film emerged in 2021 after discussions with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. Driver expressed his enthusiasm for revisiting the character, provided the project had a compelling story and a talented director attached. "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 stated.
The proposed film, tentatively titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, would have picked up after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, delving deeper into Kylo Ren’s redemption arc. Driver felt that Ben Solo’s journey was incomplete and sought to provide a more satisfying conclusion. The actor enlisted director Steven Soderbergh, and together, they presented the idea to Kennedy, Lucasfilm Vice President Cary Beck, and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni. According to Driver, the Lucasfilm team embraced the concept, even bringing in Scott Z. Burns to pen the script.
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However, the project faced a major hurdle when presented to Disney CEO Bob Iger and Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment Alan Bergman. The executives reportedly dismissed the idea, citing the apparent impossibility of Ben Solo’s survival after his death in The Rise of Skywalker. "We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. 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," Driver recounted.
Soderbergh expressed his disappointment, stating that he had enjoyed envisioning the film and regretted that Star Wars fans would not have the opportunity to see it. While The Hunt for Ben Solo remains unrealized, fans can anticipate upcoming Star Wars projects such as The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026), Star Wars: Starfighter (2027), and an untitled project by Dave Filoni. Disney and Lucasfilm representatives declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press. thescreescore.com has reached out for a comment as well.
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