Adam Driver says a proposed Star Wars feature built around Ben Solo did not move forward at Disney, despite early enthusiasm within the franchise’s creative ranks. In a recent interview, the actor described developing an idea called The Hunt for Ben Solo with filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, set after The Rise of Skywalker, and said studio leadership ultimately declined to proceed. Driver characterized the concept as a filmmaker-driven sequel he had been eager to make since 2021, adding that he felt there was unfinished business with a character whose redemption was followed by an apparent death.
Coverage of the remarks indicates the package involved screenwriter Scott Z. Burns and, at one stage, engagement from Lucasfilm, though the project never received a green light. Driver did not suggest the decision foreclosed future participation in the franchise, only that this specific approach ended; he reiterated that a strong story and director would bring him back. Separate reports summarize the pitch as a grounded man-hunt built around Ben Solo’s survival, conceived with Soderbergh’s input, but Driver said it is “no more,” which is why he could finally discuss it.
The disclosure arrives as Lucasfilm concentrates its theatrical pipeline on other projects. The Mandalorian & Grogu is positioned as the next Star Wars film in cinemas, with additional features in active development that explore distinct time periods, including a new Jedi Order era and a tale set at the dawn of the Jedi. That strategy, mapping films to different corners of the timeline while TV continues on Disney+, helps explain why a character-specific continuation like Ben Solo’s remains a tougher fit even with an A-list creative team attached.
Driver, whose recent work includes collaborations with directors like Jim Jarmusch, framed the Ben Solo idea within a broader preference for filmmaker-first projects. He said the Soderbergh partnership was part of that ethos and praised the script’s approach, while acknowledging the franchise’s direction lies with the studio. His comments reignited long-running fan speculation over the character’s fate but also clarified that, for now, there is no Ben Solo film in the works.
