Star Wars: Why Disney Was Right To Kill The Ben Solo Movie And Why It Shouldn’t Come Back

by

Fans are starting a campaign, both online and in public spaces, to convince Disney to revive a previously cancelled Star Wars film that would have focused on Adam Driver’s character, Ben Solo.

Fans are actively campaigning for a revival of the movie, using the hashtag #TheHuntForBenSolo. They’ve even created missing-person flyers and flown planes with banners, all in an effort to bring it back.

The movie should have remained unfinished. Reviving Kylo Ren risks repeating the mistakes that caused the last three Star Wars films to fail.

The Character’s Arc Is Finished

Ben Solo’s death at the end of The Rise of Skywalker resonated with many viewers, and is often considered the most emotionally impactful part of the film. Reversing that sacrifice would diminish the ending’s power and continue a pattern in Star Wars where characters don’t stay dead for long.

The franchise had already pushed the boundaries of believability by unexpectedly bringing back characters like Emperor Palpatine, Darth Maul, and Boba Fett—and those choices weren’t well-received. People voiced their concerns then, and they’d be even more upset now. Kylo Ren is a crucial villain, serving as the main antagonist for an entire trilogy that already faced challenges. If Lucasfilm starts undoing the few impactful moments that trilogy did achieve, the whole era will fall apart even more.

Disney reportedly turned down the film because they couldn’t believe Ben Solo had survived. Honestly, it was one of the most sensible creative choices the studio has made regarding Star Wars in a long time.

The Sequel Trilogy’s Backlash Still Matters

Although some claim The Rise of Skywalker caused problems for Star Wars in theaters, the real turning point came earlier with The Last Jedi. That film damaged the franchise by portraying Luke Skywalker – a beloved hero – as a disillusioned recluse who even considered killing his nephew. This felt like a betrayal of Luke’s established character and didn’t align with the long-standing principles of the Star Wars universe.

The negative reaction was instant and overwhelming. Viewers stopped liking the films, sales of related products dropped, and the franchise lost its forward drive. By the time The Rise of Skywalker was released, it was already trying to fix problems that were too big to solve. The poor reception to these films left Lucasfilm with no clear path forward, and Star Wars movies were put on hold for five years. The upcoming film, The Mandalorian & Grogu, will be the first Star Wars movie in theaters since 2019.

Focusing on characters from the original Star Wars films feels like a step backward and could bring up old debates. Even The Guardian noted that Disney was smart to reject a potential movie centered around such a character, as it would be connected to a trilogy that many fans still disagree about.

While some fans are loudly calling for a return to an older storyline, they don’t represent the feelings of most viewers, who are ready to move forward.

Bringing Him Back Weakens the Franchise

Lucasfilm often relies too much on bringing back old characters and storylines instead of creating new ones. Reviving Kylo Ren would just continue this trend.

Star Wars should focus on fresh characters, time periods, and stories instead of trying to salvage the sequel trilogy, which Disney appears to be moving past. Devoting the next ten years to explaining the fate of Ben Solo – how he survived and where he’s been – would be a waste of creative potential on a story that has already run its course.

Even with a director as talented as Steven Soderbergh, the basic problem remains. No matter how good the filmmaking, the story just doesn’t work unless the entire series contradicts itself.

The Current Fan Campaign Doesn’t Change the Reality

While fans are showing a lot of energy and enthusiasm, it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s broad support. The current online campaign – with posters, banners, and public displays – feels a lot like past efforts that created a buzz but didn’t actually achieve anything. Disney won’t bring a character back to life just because of a publicity stunt.

It’s okay for fans to express their wishes, but the franchise needs to move beyond constantly revisiting the past and focus on telling new, compelling stories. A good start would be accepting Ben Solo’s death and not bringing him back.

Star Wars Needs To Move Forward, Not Backward

Adam Driver gave a powerful performance as Kylo Ren, making him a memorable Star Wars villain. However, his story has reached a natural conclusion, and the Skywalker Saga is finished. Continuing his arc or revisiting that era of films would ultimately detract from what has already been established.

Reviving him would show Lucasfilm hasn’t grown, and keeping this movie unreleased is one of Disney’s smartest decisions.

Star Wars doesn’t need The Hunt for Ben Solo. It needs to hunt for better ideas.

Read More

2025-11-14 21:34