Steven Soderbergh Says ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’ Isn’t Happening Even After Disney Leadership Change

According to Steven Soderbergh, The Hunt for Ben Solo—like its central character—is dead. The proposed Star Wars film was developed by Soderbergh, Jules Asner (writing under her pseudonym Rebecca Blunt), and star Adam Driver. While then–Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and future president and COO Dave Filoni reportedly supported the concept, Driver has said Disney executives ultimately rejected it.

Since then, leadership at Disney has changed hands, prompting speculation among fans that the studio might revisit the shelved project. So far, however, there has been no indication of renewed interest. Now, it appears Soderbergh has moved on as well.

“Look, if it was gonna happen, it would have happened,” he said. “It’s that simple.”

From Conception to Rejection

In an interview with The Playlist, Soderbergh was asked if he was still interested in pursuing The Hunt for Ben Solo. His answer was blunt and to the point: “Nope.”

Kylo Ren in The Rise of Skywalker – Disney+

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The director explained that Adam Driver approached him with the idea. After 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, which concluded with Ben Solo’s redemption and death, Driver felt unsatisfied with his character’s arc. Soderbergh recalled Driver saying, “I think there’s still somewhere to go with this character.”

The two, along with Soderbergh’s wife, reportedly spent two years developing the script independently. After receiving initial support from Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni, The Hunt for Ben Solo was presented to Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman. “They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that,” Driver said in a 2025 interview.

Kylo Ren in The Rise of Skywalker – Disney+

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Financial considerations may also have played a role. Each of the Star Wars films featuring Ben Solo showed diminishing returns. The massive budget for the final sequel, The Rise of Skywalker, ultimately led the film to lose money despite grossing $1 billion.

Fan Campaigns and Moving On

Driver’s comment that The Hunt for Ben Solo was “one of the coolest… scripts I’ve ever been a part of” appeared to spark fan interest. Some went so far as to fly a banner over Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, that read: “SAVE THE HUNT FOR BEN SOLO.” A media push and a billboard in Times Square soon followed.

A passionate Star Wars fan just paid for a Times Square billboard calling for the release of ‘THE HUNT FOR BEN SOLO’!

It reads:
“For Adam. No one’s ever really gone. Hope lives. Ben is alive! #THBS”#StarWars #BenSolo #AdamDriver #TheHuntForBenSolo

👉 Follow for more updates! pic.twitter.com/2wuZ1rsctI

— The Fandom Feed (@thefandomfeed) October 26, 2025

However, Soderbergh was already focused on new projects. “As soon as it became apparent, ‘OK, not gonna happen,’ I sat down and started writing [something else],” Soderbergh said. “It’s like, ‘OK, new scenario, let’s get cracking.’ At a certain point, it’s like complaining about the weather. You just gotta keep moving.”

The Creative Takeaway

For now, The Hunt for Ben Solo will remain in the pile of Star Wars projects that never came to be. As the franchise moves forward with this summer’s The Mandalorian and Grogu and the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, the theatrical focus appears to have shifted toward light-hearted crowd-pleasers.

A screencap from The Mandalorian and Grogu – YouTube, Star Wars

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Still, Soderbergh doesn’t consider his work on the scrapped screenplay wasted effort. “I don’t regret one minute of the time we spent working on that,” he said. “I felt the work was good. It’s just good for you to be in that room and working on it. It’s like CrossFit—it’s good for you. It’ll have a residual effect that will be unexpected at some point.”

Though fans may continue to wonder what could have been, the project now serves as a testament to creative ambition, corporate caution, and a reminder that even unrealized ideas can leave a lasting impact on the artists who pursue them.

Were you still hoping to see The Hunt for Ben Solo? Let us know in the comments!

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