Steven Soderbergh’s attempt to create a Star Wars spin-off focused on Kylo Ren, also known as Ben Solo, was abruptly halted, leaving the acclaimed director and actor Adam Driver frustrated. The project, which had been in development following the 2019 film The Rise of Skywalker, was cancelled by Disney, much to the disappointment of those involved.
Behind the Cancelled Star Wars Project
In an interview on February 17 with BK Mag, Steven Soderbergh discussed the fate of The Hunt for Ben Solo, his envisioned Star Wars film starring Adam Driver reprising the role of Kylo Ren. The film was set to explore Ben Solo’s life after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, but it never advanced past early stages due to creative disagreements with Disney. Soderbergh expressed that everyone involved was left feeling discouraged.
You know, that was two and a half years of free work for me and Adam and [writer] Rebecca Blunt.
Rebecca Blunt, the pseudonym of screenwriter Jules Asner, who is also Soderbergh’s wife, had co-written the project. Despite their dedication, the studio declined to proceed.
Soderbergh attributed the cancellation to Disney’s unwillingness to accept the idea that Ben Solo could still be alive after the events shown in The Rise of Skywalker. He explained the communication from the studio was limited and left no room for further negotiation or clarification.
When Adam and I discussed him talking about it publicly, I said, ‘Look, do not editorialize or speculate about the why. Just say what happened, because all we know is what happened.’ The stated reason was ‘We don’t think Ben Solo could be alive.’ And that was all we were told. And so there’s nothing to do about it, you know, except move on.
Steven Soderbergh
Soderbergh’s Reflections and Creative Response
Although the project was shelved, Soderbergh revealed he had mentally completed the movie, imagining its narrative and direction. He voiced a sense of regret that audiences would not get the chance to experience his vision.
I thought the conversation [with Disney] was strictly going to be a practical one—where they go, what is this going to cost? And I had a really good answer for that. But it never even got to that point. It’s insane. We’re all very disappointed.
Steven Soderbergh
Following the project’s collapse, Soderbergh redirected his creative energies into scriptwriting, generating new material to maintain his momentum rather than dwelling on the lost opportunity.
I thought the next two years of my life were going to be spent making a Star Wars movie. And so, in the immediate aftermath of that, my response was, ‘You better start getting some shit generated so you can go back to work.’
Steven Soderbergh
He described this period as both a setback and motivation, pushing him to stay productive amid disappointment.
You need to make some things happen. So I just sat down and wrote one thing after another,
he said.
I got in that zone of generating material to make something happen.
Steven Soderbergh
Adam Driver’s Perspective on the Cancelled Star Wars Film
Adam Driver, who would have starred in the cancelled spin-off, shared limited details about the project during an October 2025 Associated Press interview. His comments emphasized their intention to approach the movie’s production carefully and economically, focusing on character-driven storytelling rather than a high-budget spectacle.
We wanted to be judicial about how to spend money and be economical with it, and do it for less than most but in the same spirit of what those movies are, which is handmade and character-driven,
Adam Driver
Driver did not reveal specifics about the storyline, leaving fans uncertain about how Ben Solo would have survived his battle with the Knights of Ren, a key plot point from The Rise of Skywalker.
Looking Ahead for Star Wars Fans
While audiences may never see Steven Soderbergh’s take on Kylo Ren, the franchise continues to explore new characters and storylines. The upcoming film featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu, set to release on May 22, offers fans another glimpse into the Star Wars universe, presenting a fresh masked hero and expanding its lore in new directions. This shift underlines Disney’s focus on different narratives within Star Wars following the cancellation of The Hunt for Ben Solo.
The cancellation highlights tensions between creative ambition and studio approval in major franchises like Star Wars, showing how corporate decisions shape the stories that reach audiences. For Soderbergh, the experience was both a professional disappointment and a catalyst for renewed creative output, reinforcing his resilience as a filmmaker.
