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Adam Driver Says Disney Passed on Ben Solo Film

Driver revealed that Disney executives declined The Hunt for Ben Solo, a sequel developed with Steven Soderbergh for two years.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Science Fiction

Graphic sci-fi illustration of a fractured ring emblem floating in deep space-black, evoking an unfinished storyline.
Disney declined to produce The Hunt for Ben Solo, a sequel Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh developed for two years, after executives were told the character died in Episode IX. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Actor Adam Driver said Disney declined to make The Hunt for Ben Solo, a sequel to The Rise of Skywalker that he and Steven Soderbergh developed for two years. Fans responded with billboard campaigns and plane flyovers over Disney in support of the project.

Why it matters

The decision leaves the character's story unresolved after Ben Solo's death in Star Wars Episode IX, a fate Disney executives reportedly cited when declining the project. Fan campaigns show continued demand for the character despite the studio's choice.

The Hunt for Ben Solo went through two years of development before Lucasfilm brought it to Disney executives, who declined it. The outcome of any future revival has not been determined.

The players

Adam Driver

Adam Driver is an American actor best known for playing Ben Solo in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Steven Soderbergh

Steven Soderbergh is an American filmmaker known for directing Traffic and Ocean's Eleven, who co-developed the project with Driver.

Disney

Disney is a major American entertainment conglomerate that owns Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise.

Lucasfilm

Lucasfilm is the production company behind the Star Wars franchise, which brought the project to Disney.

The details

Driver and Soderbergh developed The Hunt for Ben Solo with writers Scott Z. Burns and Jules Asner, who wrote under the pseudonym Rebecca Blunt. Lucasfilm presented the project to Disney, and executives passed on it after being told Ben Solo was dead following Episode IX.

Timeline

  1. Ben Solo's death is depicted in Star Wars Episode IX.

  2. Paper Tiger premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier in 2026.

  3. Star Wars: Starfighter is scheduled for theatrical release on May 28, 2027.

Industry Dynamics

The decision reflects how Disney has managed the Star Wars franchise since acquiring Lucasfilm, prioritizing its own sequel trilogy direction over outside proposals. Fan campaigns against that choice echo earlier organized pushback around the franchise's post-Episode IX direction.

Viewers will not see The Hunt for Ben Solo unless Disney or Lucasfilm reverses the decision. Fans seeking more Star Wars content can look toward Star Wars: Starfighter, which is scheduled for theatrical release on May 28, 2027.

The takeaway

Studio decisions can end a story arc even when audiences and creators want it continued. Following official announcements from Lucasfilm and Disney is the most reliable way to track whether the project returns.

What happens next

Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, is scheduled for theatrical release on May 28, 2027.

Further reading

Explore more Science Fiction coverage for context on the franchise's future.

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Do you think fan campaigns can persuade studios to revive canceled projects?