Fans have revealed that Steven Soderbergh was working on a Ben Solo movie as recently as ten months ago, amid growing disappointment online over the cancellation of his Star Wars film. The filmmaker’s 2024 viewing and reading diary on his ‘Soderblog’ shows he extensively revisited several Star Wars movies last year, including The Phantom Menace, Return of the Jedi, Attack of the Clones, and The Empire Strikes Back, indicating strong engagement with the franchise during the planning stages of the project.
Details on the Planned Ben Solo Film and Behind-the-Scenes Decisions
Adam Driver, reprising his role as Ben Solo, had been attached to the project titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, with talks ongoing since 2021. Scott Z. Burns, who previously collaborated with Soderbergh on Contagion, penned the script, which reportedly received positive feedback from Lucasfilm. However, Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman were hesitant to approve the film, reportedly because they
didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive.
This concern stems from the character’s death at the conclusion of The Rise of Skywalker, where Ben dies after aiding Rey in defeating Palpatine and renouncing his Kylo Ren identity.
Continuing Star Wars Stories and Upcoming Releases
Following the cancellation, Star Wars fans have questioned how Palpatine’s return in the saga could be reconciled without Ben Solo’s survival. Meanwhile, the next theatrical release set within the Star Wars universe is The Mandalorian and Grogu, scheduled for May 22, 2026. This film will feature Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin alongside new cast members including Sigourney Weaver as a New Republic colonel and Jeremy Allen White playing Rotta the Hutt, expanding the storylines in the galaxy far, far away.
Significance of the Scrapped Film and Future Expectations
Steven Soderbergh’s near-involvement in a Ben Solo sequel highlights ongoing challenges in continuing the Dark Side character’s arc after his canonical demise. The decision by Disney’s leadership to not proceed reflects careful consideration of established storylines and character fates. Fans and followers of the franchise are now looking ahead to how upcoming projects like The Mandalorian and Grogu will explore the Star Wars universe, while also reflecting on what might have been had The Hunt for Ben Solo materialized.
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