Adam Driver Reveals Disney Blocked Star Wars Sequel Focused on Ben Solo

Actor Adam Driver revealed today that Disney rejected a proposed Star Wars sequel centered on his character, Ben Solo (Kylo Ren), despite initial support from Lucasfilm.

Driver, who first appeared as Ben Solo in 2015’s The Force Awakens, explained he began discussing a continuation of the character’s story as early as 2021 with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy. “I always was interested in doing another Star Wars,” Driver said. “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 collaborated with filmmaker Steven Soderbergh and writer Scott Z. Burns on a script, tentatively titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, which he described as “one of the coolest scripts I had ever been a part of.”

The project gained momentum with Lucasfilm’s approval, but ultimately stalled when presented to Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman. “We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman and they said no,” Driver recalled. “They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive.” This decision is particularly notable given the character’s apparent death and redemption arc in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, the final installment in the Skywalker saga. Fans have long debated the possibilities of bringing characters back within the expansive Star Wars universe.

Soderbergh echoed Driver’s sentiments, stating he “really enjoyed making the movie in my head” and expressed regret that fans would not see the project realized. Lucasfilm declined to comment on the matter when reached by media outlets. The news highlights the creative control Disney exerts over the franchise and the challenges of navigating sequel ideas even with internal support, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Disney officials have not indicated any plans to revisit the concept, leaving the future of Ben Solo’s story unresolved.