Steven Soderbergh, known for directing the Ocean’s trilogy, openly criticized Disney’s decision to cancel the planned sequel to Star Wars, despite Lucasfilm’s prior approval. The project, which involved the storyline of Ben Solo, was unexpectedly dropped, leaving the filmmaker and cast frustrated over the abrupt end to the project.
Details Behind the Cancellation and Reactions from Creators
In an interview with BK Mag, Soderbergh revealed that Kathleen Kennedy’s frustration, shared during her exit interview with Deadline, reflected the feelings of everyone involved. The sequel, intended to star Adam Driver reprising his role as Kylo Ren, was discontinued with the explanation provided by Disney: they did not believe Ben Solo could still be alive.
The director said,
“You know, that was two and a half years of free work for me and Adam and [writer] Rebecca Blunt. When Adam and I discussed him talking about it publicly, I said, ‘Look, do not editorialise 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 also shared his personal disappointment, adding,
“I’d kind of made the movie in my head, and just felt bad that nobody else was going to get to see it,”
before continuing,
“I thought the conversation 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.”
Project Background and Fan Response
The sequel, titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, was first revealed to The Associated Press in the previous year. Although plot details were mostly kept secret, the story was intended to follow events after 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Adam Driver described the script as
“one of the coolest f**king scripts”
he had ever worked on. Despite that enthusiasm, Disney’s refusal to move forward was based on the logic that the character Ben Solo could not be alive, a reasoning that many found puzzling given the Star Wars franchise’s history of resurrecting characters previously thought dead.
This inconsistency is highlighted by the return of Palpatine as the antagonist in The Rise of Skywalker, despite his apparent death in 1983’s Return of the Jedi. Yet, the project remains shelved indefinitely, with no official plans for revival at present.
The Future of The Hunt for Ben Solo and Ongoing Fan Support
For now, The Hunt for Ben Solo remains locked away, with only time indicating whether Disney will reconsider its development. Meanwhile, fans have voiced strong support online, urging the company to bring the project back. The widespread disappointment among creators and viewers alike highlights a clash between creative ambition and studio decisions surrounding the Star Wars saga’s expansion.
