Steven Soderbergh’s secret Star Wars project, developed quietly with Adam Driver and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns, was officially canceled despite having studio approval and a completed script. The film, intended to follow the events of The Rise of Skywalker, had advanced into early production stages before Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman halted it.
The Development and Approval of the Project
Approximately six months ago, it became known that Soderbergh and Adam Driver collaborated on a post-Rise of Skywalker Star Wars film titled The Hunt For Ben Solo. Scott Z. Burns wrote the screenplay, which surpassed early development and received full creative approval from Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Carrie Beck. The project was formally greenlit internally at Lucasfilm and had a finalized script prepared for production tasks like staffing and early preparation.
Working under the codename Quiet Leaves, the film was based on a treatment and beat sheet developed by Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt, a pseudonym for Jules Asner—herself an experienced screenwriter responsible for Logan Lucky. Lucasfilm engaged Burns, known for his work on Contagion and uncredited contributions to Rogue One, paying him a record-breaking fee to complete the script. Kennedy and the Star Wars Story Group only submitted the finished screenplay, budget details, and proposed shooting schedule to Disney once the film was production-ready, marking a first in Lucasfilm history for a fully approved film to be presented and then subsequently rejected by the corporate level.
The Unexpected Obstacles at Disney’s Executive Level
When Disney executives finally reviewed the project, the decision to halt production surprised Lucasfilm leadership. Alan Bergman and Bob Iger took an unusually prolonged period to read the screenplay, ultimately expressing doubt about how the story fit within the established Star Wars narrative continuity—particularly how Ben Solo could be alive after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. This question conflicted with the convictions of Lucasfilm insiders, who considered the storyline logically coherent and creatively valid.
Several sources interpret the shelving of the project as influenced by internal corporate politics. The decision coincided with Bob Iger’s push to elevate Alan Bergman as his successor at Disney, but Bergman’s handling of high-profile initiatives, including this project, drew internal criticism and is believed to have diminished his standing among Disney’s leadership. Other executives, like Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden, are currently viewed as more viable contenders for the studio’s top leadership roles.
Financial and Creative Impacts on Those Involved
The cancellation affected the key talents differently. While Scott Z. Burns reportedly earned over $3 million for his completed screenplay, Steven Soderbergh and Adam Driver were never financially compensated for their efforts. Both filmmakers, having been released from nondisclosure agreements, are now free to discuss the project publicly for the first time, affirming that it is permanently shelved.
The film’s progression into early phases was hinted at earlier in the year when Lucasfilm designer Bobby McKenna shared on social media that he participated in a design sprint for Quiet Leaves. The film’s title suggests its narrative centered on the whereabouts of Ben Solo, who survived and redeemed himself by the conclusion of The Rise of Skywalker, but details about the involvement of characters like Rey Skywalker remain unconfirmed.
Clarifications About Other Rumored Star Wars Projects
In parallel, reports claiming that David Fincher pitched a new Star Wars movie after The Rise of Skywalker have been debunked. Though Fincher met with Lucasfilm years earlier and briefly considered a storyline set between episodes eight and nine of the saga, his idea never proceeded beyond initial concept discussions. Sources close to Fincher emphasize that only a few calls were exchanged with Kathleen Kennedy and that no formal development or scripting took place. This notion is described by insiders as a “non-story,” with Fincher’s focus shifting to projects such as Mank, The Killer, and an unproduced Chinatown prequel series for Netflix.
Future Prospects and Leadership Changes at Disney and Lucasfilm
The Disney board plans to convene in January to determine Bob Iger’s successor, with an announcement about Kathleen Kennedy’s eventual replacement at Lucasfilm expected soon after. Whether these leadership transitions will revive shelved projects like The Hunt For Ben Solo remains unclear, but sources suggest this is unlikely. The project stands as a rare example of a fully developed Lucasfilm-approved Star Wars film halted only by intervention at the highest executive levels of Disney.
Lucasfilm has not issued comments regarding the cancellation or the overall state of unproduced Star Wars projects.
“Shoulda, woulda, coulda, I guess.” — Adam Driver, Actor
“When the final script, budget, and proposed start date were delivered to Disney, it marked the first time Lucasfilm had ever presented a fully approved project that did not move forward.” — Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm President (confirmed by Steven Soderbergh)
Steven Soderbergh reveals that THE HUNT FOR BEN SOLO was the first time Lucasfilm had a finished script ready for greenlight rejected by Disney.
“In the aftermath of the [Hunt for Ben Solo] situation, I asked Kathy Kennedy if LFL had ever turned in a finished movie script for… pic.twitter.com/LTD8aV2B7i
— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) October 24, 2025
i did a design sprint for the BEN SOLO pitch and i regret to inform you the movie would have been sick. rip. https://t.co/JNrTIz1QuD
— bobby (@bobby) October 20, 2025
