Adam Driver revealed that he and filmmaker Steven Soderbergh spent two years developing a Star Wars movie titled The Hunt for Ben Solo. It would take place after 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker.
According to Driver, the story would have focused on Ben Solo’s journey toward redemption, following his return to the light after the events of The Rise of Skywalker.
In a recent interview with AP, Driver revealed that the canceled The Hunt for Ben Solo movie was inspired by The Empire Strikes Back. The concept was co-developed by Soderbergh and Logan Lucky screenwriter Rebecca Blunt. Later, Scott Z. Burns joined the project to refine and expand the script.
Driver said he would “be there in a second” to reprise the role if a great director and story came together. He shared that while Lucasfilm was interested, Disney ultimately rejected the project, questioning how Ben Solo could still be alive.
Driver said, “I always was interested in doing another Star Wars.” He added, “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.”
Driver described the film as “handmade and character-driven,” comparing it to 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back. The White Noise star said that film is the “standard” of what a Star Wars movie should be. Soderbergh and Driver pitched The Hunt for Ben Solo to Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Cary Beck at Lucasfilm, who loved the idea. However, when they brought the script to Disney, it was rejected.
“We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea,” Driver recalled. “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.”
Recently, Steven Soderbergh released a statement regarding the canceled The Hunt for Ben Solo movie he was set to direct.
He said, “I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it.”
Driver first appeared as Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and reprised the role in The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Source: AP
