Ben Solo might not be a name non-Star Wars fans know as widely as they might Han Solo or Luke Skywalker, but it could have been. The Star Wars sequel trilogy, following years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983), could have been just as impactful as the originals if only the last film, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), hadn't retconned a majority of the setup from Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015). Adam Driver's Ben Solo, more commonly known as Kylo Ren, could've had an even bigger legacy if the films had given him the room to play with the character's motives more intimately.
In an exclusive interview with AP News, Adam Driver opened up about a now-shelved project titled The Hunt for Ben Solo and how, despite director Steven Soderbergh being on board as well as a screenplay ready from Scott Z. Burns, Disney and Bob Iger rejected it. While the concept of something being right or wrong can be subjective, it's thoroughly shocking that the billion-dollar company would pass up the opportunity to tell an even bigger story about one of its most popular characters.
What Was Adam Driver’s Star Wars Movie Pitch?
We don't have all the details about what the pitch was, but in the same interview, Driver said, "We wanted to be judicial about how to spend money and be economical with it, and do it for less than most but in the same spirit of what those movies are, which is handmade and character-driven." Driver compares the simplicity of the pitched film to The Empire Strikes Back (1980), noting that perhaps it would have returned the story to its roots of more intimate storytelling.
Still, to this day, though Ben Solo saves Rey's (Daisy Ridley) life, countless fans don't feel he is worthy of redemption after killing his father, Han Solo. And the new film could've allowed viewers a more careful study of how his character's changes are going to last. Driver's enthusiasm throughout the article makes it abundantly clear how much he loves Ben Solo and would've loved to ensure viewers understand him better.
Why Disney Rejected Adam Driver’s Star Wars Movie
Though representatives for Disney have denied further commentary on why Adam Driver's Star Wars movie was rejected, Driver has briefly said, "They didn't see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that."
Disney has also prioritized more TV shows like The Mandalorian (2019), Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022), and even Ahsoka (2023), so maybe that's another reason why it felt a theatrical film wasn't necessary. Except today, we have news of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) coming, so it's ultimately unclear why the studio wouldn't want to capitalize on Ben Solo's popularity and Adam Driver's streak as an Academy Award-nominated actor.
Disney Is Wrong About Bringing Ben Solo Back
There's perhaps no fandom on the internet more divided than the Star Wars fandom, but if there's one thing more of us agree on than we disagree on, it's how the final film brings back Emperor Palpatine, then notes that Rey is a descendant of his. Even the GIF-ed scene of Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron begrudgingly uttering the words, "Somehow, Palpatine returned," is consistently used as a reaction to highlight something unbelievable happening in any film or TV show.
Now, if Palpatine could've returned, it makes very little sense for Disney to think that they couldn't see the same happening for Adam Driver's Ben Solo. Sure, the audience visibly watches him die, but Star Wars isn't the real world, and the writers could've certainly found a way to showcase that he actually survived. (Again. We also watched Palpatine die, and yet… there he was. The most unwanted villain return of all time.)
The Hunt for Ben Solo could've been the company's chance to right the wrongs from the sequel trilogy and actually deliver something that fans wouldn't be frustrated with. It's also worth noting here that while some diehard fans believe that the hatred for The Rise of the Skywalker is based entirely on the fact that Reylo (Rey and Ben Solo) shippers are upset by his death, I can confirm that even those of us who weren't rooting for a romantic relationship feel cheated by the entire narrative arc.
The Rise of Skywalker is as frustrating as it is to most fans not because it's an inherently bad film, but because it sacrifices the very character development that's established in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi for an unrealistic plot twist. It kills off a character in a dated attempt to redeem him through death when there are more enticing and nuanced ways to deliver an impactful character redemption. All of this is to say, Ben Solo deserved a better chance to shine.
