“Frustrated” Steven Soderbergh Breaks Silence on Canceled Star Wars Movie & Ben Solo Return

by

Since Disney bought Lucasfilm, we’ve seen a lot of new Star Wars films and TV series, but also many projects that never came to be. One of the most puzzling was a planned movie called The Hunt for Ben Solo, which would have brought together actor Adam Driver and director Steven Soderbergh – the pair previously worked on Logan Lucky. Lucasfilm had a finished script that they were really happy with, but Disney cancelled the project because executives couldn’t reconcile how Ben Solo could still be alive after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This decision was disappointing for many Star Wars fans, and Soderbergh himself feels the same way.

In a recent interview with BKMAG, director Steven Soderbergh talked about his experience working on a potential Star Wars project that ultimately didn’t move forward. He acknowledged Kathleen Kennedy, the former president of Lucasfilm, was understandably frustrated with the situation, as they all were. Soderbergh revealed he and Adam Driver spent two and a half years developing the project – along with Rebecca Blunt – without compensation. When Driver considered publicly discussing the cancellation, Soderbergh advised him to simply state the facts, not speculate about the reasons. The official explanation they received was that the story wouldn’t allow for Ben Solo’s character to still be alive. Soderbergh expressed disappointment, particularly because he had already visualized the entire project and felt bad that no one else would see it. He expected the conversation with Lucasfilm to focus on logistics and budget, but they never even reached that stage, which he found frustrating. Ultimately, he and the team were very disappointed with how things turned out.

Could The Hunt for Ben Solo Be Revived Under New Disney Leadership?

Since Adam Driver shared details about his planned The Hunt for Ben Solo project, Star Wars fans strongly voiced their support and hoped it would be made. However, it doesn’t seem likely to happen. While reports say Driver isn’t currently scheduled to return to the franchise, things could still change, particularly with Disney’s recent leadership shift. Josh D’Amaro is now the company’s CEO, taking over from Bob Iger.

Disney canceled The Hunt for Ben Solo, leading some to believe a different leadership team might have approved it. The cancellation was unusual because it marked the first time Disney had rejected a finished script from Lucasfilm. Considering the many problems and rewrites that have affected other Star Wars projects – like New Jedi Order, which has seen several writers since its 2023 announcement – it seemed odd that Disney wouldn’t embrace a completed script from such a skilled team.

Disney isn’t the only studio facing changes. Lucasfilm also has new leaders – Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan are now co-presidents, taking over from Kathleen Kennedy. Kennedy previously gave the green light to the Hunt for Ben Solo script, but Filoni and Brennan probably have their own ideas for the future of Star Wars. Before Disney even considers revisiting The Hunt for Ben Solo, the new Lucasfilm leaders need to be convinced it’s the right path, and that’s not a certainty.

It’s still unclear what direction Star Wars will take now that Dave Filoni and Kathleen Brennan are leading the charge. The next two movies, The Mandalorian and Grogu and Star Wars: Starfighter, were approved under Kathleen Kennedy, and it will likely be some time before fans know what’s planned beyond those. Currently, no Star Wars films are scheduled for release after Starfighter in 2027, though there are many potential projects being considered. Kennedy mentioned that Filoni and Brennan support Simon Kinberg’s planned trilogy (which may feature a return for Rey), but these plans aren’t confirmed. Getting a director like Steven Soderbergh involved would be a huge win, so hopefully Filoni and his team can find a place for The Hunt for Ben Solo, especially if other films face difficulties in development.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/feature/i-think-star-wars-should-absolutely-bring-back-adam-drivers-ben-solo/embed/#

Read More

2026-02-18 23:19