Steven Soderbergh’s much-anticipated movie centered on Ben Solo, titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, was surprisingly rejected by Disney despite nearing completion. The writer-director disclosed on his Bluesky account that a finished script had been submitted for approval, making it the first time in Star Wars history that such an advanced project was turned down before production began. This news highlights growing concerns among fans about the future of the character Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver.
Inside the Decision to Halt the Movie
Soderbergh revealed that he spoke with producer Kathleen Kennedy to learn whether any Star Wars script had ever been rejected so late in development. Kennedy confirmed it was unprecedented. More details emerged indicating the project moved beyond concept stages and had entered initial preparations before Disney decided against moving forward. According to Jeff Sneider from The InSneider, Lucasfilm currently has no plans to revisit the Kylo Ren or Ben Solo character in upcoming productions.
Why Disney Decided Against the Project
In an interview with the Associated Press, Adam Driver explained that Steven Soderbergh’s solo Kylo Ren movie would have taken place after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. Driver praised the script as one of the coolest he had ever read, but the project was ultimately shelved because Disney CEO Bob Iger doubted how Ben Solo’s survival could be portrayed, considering the character’s death at the end of The Rise of Skywalker.
Implications for the Star Wars Universe
The rejection of this near-complete film script marks a rare and notable moment in the Star Wars franchise’s history, signaling a strategic pause on expanding the story of Ben Solo beyond the existing trilogy. While fans were eager to explore his character further through Soderbergh’s vision, the studio’s decision underscores the challenges of continuing narratives involving characters with definitive endings. This may influence how future Star Wars projects approach legacy characters and story arcs moving forward.
