Following reports of a scrapped Star Wars spin-off following the fan-favorite Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, as played by Adam Driver, the film’s writer, Steven Soderbergh is speaking out. Set after 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, it would have been titled The Hunt for Ben Solo.
Also, in the aftermath of the HFBS situation, I asked Kathy Kennedy if LFL had ever turned in a finished movie script for greenlight to Disney and had it rejected. She said no, this was a first.
— (@bitchuation.bsky.social) 2025-10-22T21:01:56.328Z
Soderbergh provided additional context to the film’s cancellation on Bluesky, stating: “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 greenlight to Disney and had it rejected. She said no, this was a first.“
The filmmaker continued by adding that he lamented the secretive status surrounding The Hunt For Ben Solo. “For the record, I did not enjoy lying about the existence of THE HUNT FOR BEN SOLO, but it really did need to remain a secret…until now,” Soderbergh wrote.
Earlier this month, Driver ignited speculation surrounding the scrapped spin-off. The actor revealed his side of the story, stating:
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.
He explained that Lucasfilm “loved the idea” and “totally understood [the film’s] angle.” However, when the filmmakers took the idea to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, the executives rejected the pitch because “they didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive.”
After Driver’s comments, Star Wars fans have launched a campaign to realize Driver’s hopes of returning as Ben for another film. Just a couple of days ago, a banner reading “Save The Hunt for Ben Solo” was seen flying over Burbank. Disney and Lucasfilm have yet to respond to these calls, so it remains to be seen if The Hunt for Ben Solo will be resurrected.