The ‘Star Wars’ Sequel You Really Want to See Almost Happened…but Disney Killed It

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The Star Wars franchise is facing its biggest challenges since the original film, A New Hope, debuted in 1977. Many feel Disney has weakened the series, and it’s unclear where the story should go after the controversial sequel trilogy. However, things could have been very different. Adam Driver, the actor who played Kylo Ren, has shared ideas for a film that many believe would have been a fantastic and highly anticipated addition to the Star Wars universe. Unfortunately, that film will likely never be made.

Adam Driver first portrayed Kylo Ren in the 2015 film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. As the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa, his character, also known as Ben Solo, became a fan favorite in the Disney Star Wars trilogy after falling to the Dark Side due to a conflict with his Jedi mentor, Luke Skywalker. His redemptive sacrifice in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker left many wondering if Ben Solo might return in future installments.

It’s a bit frustrating, but he nearly did! Even though Kylo Ren ‘died,’ let’s be real, death isn’t always permanent in Star Wars – they’ve brought characters back with just a ‘somehow…’! Adam Driver was actually really keen to play Kylo Ren again, and he even contacted a famous, Academy Award-winning director to see if they could make it happen.

I’ve always wanted to revisit the ‘Star Wars’ universe. I started discussing the possibility of returning as early as 2021 with Kathleen Kennedy. I made it clear that if we had a fantastic director and a compelling story, I’d be eager to reprise the role. I really enjoyed playing that character and have a strong affection for him.

Somehow… Disney Said “No” for the Most Ridiculous Reason


Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

I recently read in AP News that I actually pitched a sequel idea to Steven Soderbergh set after The Rise of Skywalker. It was called The Hunt for Ben Solo, and I really saw it as a way to wrap up some loose ends with my character. Honestly, I felt like we didn’t quite get to fully explore the Darth Vader story from a different angle – an ‘inverted’ arc, as I put it – in the Disney trilogy, and this would have been my chance to do that.

Cary Beck teamed up with director Steven Soderbergh and writer Rebecca Blunt to propose a story about Ben Solo to Lucasfilm executives Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni. The pitch went well, and Scott Z. Burns, known for writing films like The Bourne Ultimatum and Contagion, was brought on to write a screenplay. Adam Driver himself called the script “one of the coolest” he’d ever seen. Unfortunately, Disney ultimately decided not to move forward with the project.

We showed the screenplay to Lucasfilm, and they were enthusiastic about the concept, fully grasping our vision and reasoning. However, when we presented it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, they rejected it. Their main concern was the idea that Ben Solo was still alive, and unfortunately, that ended the discussion.

There was this amazing project I worked on called ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo,’ but it’s been cancelled now, so I can finally share what it was all about! It was a really cool experience.

Many fans likely would have loved to see a standalone movie focusing on Kylo Ren, especially considering Disney is currently having trouble developing a similar film centered around Rey. It’s disappointing that a director like Steven Soderbergh—who had a vision for a Star Wars story—didn’t get the opportunity to bring it to life. As Soderbergh himself said, he enjoyed crafting the story in his mind, but regrets fans won’t get to experience it. And many of us feel the same way.

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2025-10-21 17:48