New Details on Driver’s Star Wars Sequel Revealed

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Adam Driver recently revealed details about a planned Star Wars film that ultimately didn’t get made, called The Hunt for Ben Solo. He explained that he, director Steven Soderbergh, and writer Rebecca Blunt had attempted to create a movie bringing back his character, Kylo Ren.

I’ve always been a fan of Adam Driver, and it’s great to hear he’s been willing to revisit his role as Kylo Ren! He’s said he’d definitely be open to returning to the Star Wars universe, which is fantastic news for those of us who loved his complex portrayal of the character.

He expressed his continued interest in revisiting the ‘Star Wars’ universe. He explained that Kathleen Kennedy had contacted him, and he’d always been open to returning if the project had a strong director and a compelling story. He shared his affection for the character and enjoyed his time playing him.

Driver explained the movie would have continued the story after The Rise of Skywalker, focusing on what could have happened if Ben Solo had lived. He believed there was more to explore with his character and had envisioned a different conclusion for him.

This idea brought him into contact with Soderbergh, who collaborated with him to turn it into a complete project. They brought on Emily Blunt, the writer of Logan Lucky, to help.

The team eventually presented their concept to Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, along with Dave Filoni and Carrie Beck. They were impressed and decided to bring in screenwriter Scott Z. Burns, known for his work on the movie Contagion, to develop the script. Burns was already familiar with Star Wars, having previously contributed uncredited writing to Rogue One.

Driver described the outcome as truly remarkable. He said it was “one of the most amazing projects he’d ever worked on.” Lucasfilm gave the story, which had been secretly developed under the title Quiet Leaves, its approval.

The project was nearly ready to begin full pre-production, and Disney had even funded a complete script and detailed outline. Burns was said to have earned more as a screenwriter for Lucasfilm than anyone else before him.

According to reports from The Playlist and others, Lucasfilm was very excited about the movie. Kathleen Kennedy and her team finished most of the preparation before showing it to Disney for a final green light. However, Disney’s reaction caused a shift in plans.

Disney leaders, like Bob Iger and Sean Bailey, were unsure about proceeding with a new story. Their biggest concern was explaining how Ben Solo could still be alive after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. People familiar with Lucasfilm were surprised by this hesitation, as they thought the story offered a reasonable way for him to survive.

Sources familiar with the project suggested the decision to cancel it wasn’t based on the quality of the work itself, but rather on disagreements and maneuvering within Disney.

The situation created friction inside the company. Bergman, involved in the decision-making process, faced criticism for his handling of certain projects, potentially weakening his standing within Disney’s leadership. At the same time, executives like Josh D’Amaro and Dana Walden emerged as stronger contenders for key leadership positions.

Even though Lucasfilm was excited about it, The Hunt for Ben Solo was never actually produced. While screenwriter Burns was paid a substantial amount—over a million dollars—to complete the script, actors Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh weren’t compensated for their involvement.

The project started to take shape earlier this year when Lucasfilm designer Bobby McKenna shared online that he’d been involved in something called Quiet Leaves. He described it as a quick, initial design phase, part of the very beginning stages of development. The title suggested the film would center on Ben Solo’s survival and the puzzle of what happened to him after he turned away from the dark side.

There’s been speculation that Ryan Gosling mentioned the unreleased film to push Disney to revive it, but sources close to him and director Steven Soderbergh say that’s not true. They both believe the project is permanently shelved. Now that it’s officially cancelled, they’re finally able to discuss it openly.

It’s disappointing that The Hunt for Ben Solo didn’t come to fruition. The story could have offered Star Wars fans a more in-depth look at themes of redemption and family history, and the involvement of filmmakers like Soderbergh and Burns made the potential even more exciting. Adam Driver was clearly invested in the character and eager to develop him further. While it’s possible Lucasfilm might explore this idea in the future, for now, it remains a lost story within the Star Wars universe.

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2025-10-25 11:19