Earlier this week, actor Adam Driver reignited fervent discussion across the Star Wars community when he disclosed surprising details about a once-secret project titled *The Hunt for Ben Solo*. The revelation sent shockwaves through the fandom, as the film—an ambitious creative collaboration between Driver himself, lauded filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns—had apparently progressed far enough into development to receive formal support from Lucasfilm before ultimately being canceled by senior Disney executives, namely Bob Iger and Alan Bergman. This revelation suggested that a potential continuation of the Skywalker saga had come strikingly close to realization before higher-level corporate decisions consigned it to the archives of unrealized cinematic ideas.\n\nA subsequent report from *Playlist* expanded upon Driver’s statements, providing further insight into how advanced the project’s early stages had actually become before its abrupt termination. According to that report, *The Hunt for Ben Solo* was envisioned as a narrative continuation following the events of *The Rise of Skywalker*. The story would have reportedly resurrected the redeemed Kylo Ren—also known by his birth name, Ben Solo—who had appeared to perish while reviving Rey in the climactic moments of that 2019 film. Insiders claimed that Lucasfilm had already granted internal approval, sometimes referred to as a “green light,” thereby authorizing the project to move ahead into pre-production. Only after this approval was the finished package—complete with screenplay, projected budget, and strategic start date—presented to Disney executives for their final endorsement.\n\nDevelopment had apparently proceeded under the enigmatic codename “Quiet Leaves.” This phase saw the completion of a finalized script and the initiation of pre-production logistics, such as assembling department heads and coordinating schedules. Notably, Disney had at one stage even purchased a detailed narrative outline—known in the industry as a “beat sheet”—from Soderbergh and his wife, writer Jules Asner, who had submitted it under her pseudonym, Rebecca Blunt. This document served as a step-by-step map of the story’s major plot turns and emotional rhythms, providing a crucial guide that would inform the evolution of a full screenplay.\n\nScott Z. Burns, recognized for his previous work in shaping story elements within the Star Wars universe during early iterations of *Rogue One*, was reportedly compensated more than any previous Lucasfilm screenwriter—a testament to both the studio’s confidence in the project and to the narrative’s perceived potential. His draft, insiders suggest, was considered polished and ready for production when it was presented to Disney’s corporate leadership. Unfortunately, Iger and Bergman allegedly rejected the project, reportedly expressing doubts and confusion regarding the narrative logic tied to Ben Solo’s miraculous survival.\n\nAt that juncture, Lucasfilm had not initiated production on any new *Star Wars* film since the release of *The Rise of Skywalker* in 2019, meaning that *The Hunt for Ben Solo* could have marked the studio’s first major feature movement in several years. Yet despite internal enthusiasm, the project was halted. When approached for comment, Lucasfilm did not immediately confirm or deny the accuracy of *Playlist’s* statements, leaving observers to wait for possible clarification or further official comment.\n\nCuriously, this new report aligns with a series of public remarks made earlier in the week on Bluesky by an account widely believed to belong to Steven Soderbergh. Operating under his familiar handle “Bitchuation”—a moniker he had previously used on Twitter before migrating to the competing platform in November 2024—Soderbergh posted several messages on October 22, only two days after Driver’s initial revelation. In those statements, he admitted that maintaining secrecy around *The Hunt for Ben Solo* had been unpleasant yet necessary, remarking that the film’s very existence needed to remain hidden until the appropriate time.\n\nSoderbergh’s posts went further, revealing a fascinating exchange with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. When he inquired whether Lucasfilm had ever previously developed a fully completed screenplay, received internal approval, and then faced rejection from Disney’s upper management, Kennedy’s reported response was clear: no, this was the first instance in which such a reversal had occurred. Such an unprecedented situation underscores how firmly entrenched corporate authority can override even a well-developed artistic endeavor.\n\nAdding context, *Playlist* also observed that both Driver and Soderbergh only felt free to acknowledge the project publicly now because they are convinced that *The Hunt for Ben Solo* will never be revived. According to those close to the production, all binding nondisclosure agreements related to the project have expired, effectively releasing them from confidentiality. Thus, their candid discussions are motivated not by publicity or revival efforts but by the freedom to share experiences that once had to be kept secret. This stands in contrast to past controversies such as the infamous *Deadpool* leak by Ryan Reynolds—no such covert acts of rebellion appear to be in play here.\n\nIn an unrelated note, *Playlist* went on to address a separate claim originally reported by *The InSneider*, which alleged that David Fincher had attempted to embark on his own *Star Wars* film only to see it declined by Lucasfilm. Revising that narrative, *Playlist* asserted that Fincher’s involvement never surpassed the earliest stages of conceptual discussion. His proposed story—supposedly situated chronologically between *The Last Jedi* and *The Rise of Skywalker*—did not advance to the level of scripting or structured development. Contrary to suggestions that negotiations fell apart due to disputes over creative control or editing rights, these early talks simply failed to gain momentum with the studio.\n\nAs journalists and fans alike continue to speculate about what Lucasfilm’s next steps for the future of *Star Wars* may entail—be they resurrected ideas, newly imagined concepts, or other abandoned ventures—one truth endures: the galaxy far, far away remains as fertile a ground for creative ambition as it does for corporate deliberation. io9 has affirmed that updates will be shared as new information surfaces, ensuring that both industry observers and devoted fans remain apprised of Lucasfilm’s evolving cinematic trajectory.
Sourse: https://gizmodo.com/star-wars-hunt-for-ben-solo-greenlit-disney-cancelation-2000676887
