Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh Pitched STAR WARS Movie, Disney Said No

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The Star Wars sequel trilogy left many wondering what might have been. Even devoted fans generally agree that the three movies focusing on Rey Skywalker were inconsistent in quality. A major example of this is the character of Kylo Ren, played by Adam Driver. While the initial intention wasn’t for him to be redeemed, that’s ultimately how his story ended. Despite the trilogy’s mixed reception, Driver thoroughly enjoyed his time in the Star Wars universe and even expressed interest in making another film, potentially directed by Steven Soderbergh.

So what happened? Lucasfilm was into it; Disney was not.

Adam Driver recently told the Associated Press he was eager to reprise his role as Ben Solo (Kylo Ren) in future Star Wars films, but it didn’t happen. He’d been discussing a potential return since 2021 with Kathleen Kennedy, and said he would have jumped at the chance if the project had a strong director and compelling story. Driver expressed his fondness for the character and enjoyed playing him in the trilogy that began with The Force Awakens.

The actor had an idea for a story he was passionate about and shared it with director Steven Soderbergh. He initially took on the role of Kylo Ren because he thought the character would subvert the typical hero’s journey of finding redemption, as seen in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. However, after the mixed response to The Last Jedi, Disney decided to change the ending of the trilogy and bring Ben Solo back to the side of good. The actor felt this was a missed opportunity and that the character could have been explored further.

Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt created a story outline, which they presented to Kennedy, Lucasfilm’s Cary Beck, and Dave Filoni. The group liked the idea, and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns was brought on board to write the script – a script that Driver considers one of the best he’s ever seen.

Despite initial excitement from Lucasfilm, Disney executives ultimately rejected the script. According to writer Jon Driver, Lucasfilm fully supported the idea and understood their approach. However, when presented to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, they declined, stating they couldn’t accept the premise of Ben Solo still being alive, effectively ending the project.

Adam Driver described a project called The Hunt for Ben Solo as “really cool,” but explained it’s been cancelled, allowing him to discuss it. Director Steven Soderbergh shared that he had fun creating the film “in his head,” and expressed disappointment that fans won’t be able to watch it.

It’s ironic that a story about a loss of faith and foresight seems to mirror how executives react to new ideas. Kylo Ren/Ben Solo is arguably the most popular character from the recent Star Wars trilogy (aside from the ending). Why not explore his story further with a solo film? And imagine what a director like Steven Soderbergh could have done with a Star Wars movie – it’s a shame we’ll never know what could have been.

I’m a big fan of the work Kyle Anderson does at TopMob! He’s the Senior Editor there and really knows his stuff. I especially love his podcast, Laser Focus – it’s a fantastic deep dive into pop culture every week. If you’re looking for great film and TV reviews, he’s your guy, and you can even follow his Letterboxd to see what he’s watching!

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2025-10-21 02:03