Adam Driver recently revealed that he pitched an idea for a Star Wars movie centering on his character Ben Solo, but Disney ultimately rejected it.
While the character already met his demise in The Rise of Skywalker, Kylo Ren/Ben Solo remains one of the fan-favorites to this day, and there is still a lot of interest in seeing more of his stories in the galaxy far, far away. Some fans have also been wondering whether there are plans to feature more of the character in some capacity. As it turns out, it almost happened.
Why Disney Rejected Adam Driver's Star Wars Ben Solo Movie Idea
Speaking recently with AP News, Driver revealed that he pitched an idea for a Star Wars Ben Solo movie titled The Hunt for Ben Solo to Lucasfilm and Disney.
The potential movie would have taken place after the events of The Rise of Skywalker and follows Kylo Ren/Ben Solo searching for redemption. Award-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, Rebecca Blunt, and Scott Z. Burns worked on the story and script.
"I always was interested in doing another Star Wars. I had been talking about doing another one since 2021. Kathleen [Kennedy] had reached out. I always said: ‘With a great director and a great story, I’d be there in a second.’ I loved that character and loved playing him," the actor said.
The project was described as "handmade and character-driven," similar to The Empire Strikes Back, which Driver called the "standard" of what a "Star Wars movie should be."
While the executives at Lucasfilm "loved the idea," it was ultimately rejected by Disney when they looked at the script.
"We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it. We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that," Driver said.
Soderbergh described his experience working on the project, "I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it."
What's Next for Star Wars Movies?
The next Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, is slated for release in theaters in May of next year. The first teaser trailer was released last month.
Production is currently ongoing for the Shawn Levy movie, Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling. It is a standalone movie that is set in a timeline that has never been explored in Star Wars before. It is set for release in theaters in May 2027.
"I feel a profound sense of excitement and honor as we begin production on Star Wars: Starfighter. From the day Kathy Kennedy called me up, inviting me to develop an original adventure in this incredible Star Wars galaxy, this experience has been a dream come true, creatively and personally," Levy said in the announcement.
"Star Wars shaped my sense of what story can do, how characters and cinematic moments can live with us forever. To join this storytelling galaxy with such brilliant collaborators onscreen and off, is the thrill of a lifetime."
Keep it locked on Epicstream, your go-to site for film, TV, and celebrity coverage!