Steven Soderbergh, the acclaimed director behind the Ocean’s trilogy, has voiced his disappointment over Disney’s decision to cancel a planned Star Wars sequel centered on Ben Solo. Despite approval from Lucasfilm, the project was abruptly shelved, frustrating not only Soderbergh but also the cast and crew involved. The sequel, which focused on Adam Driver’s character Kylo Ren, had been in the works with hopes to continue the story after 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker.
Background and Reactions from Key Figures
Soderbergh discussed the situation in an interview with BK Mag, revealing that Kathleen Kennedy’s expressed frustration about the cancellation came as no surprise to those involved. He described the collective feeling among the team as one of “frustration.” Both he and actor Adam Driver had contributed significant time and effort, alongside writer Rebecca Blunt, working on the project without immediate payment.
“We were all frustrated,” Soderbergh said.
“You know, that was two and a half years of free work for me and Adam and [writer] Rebecca Blunt. When Adam and I discussed him talking about it publicly, I said, ‘Look, do not editorialise or speculate about the why. Just say what happened, because all we know is what happened.’ The stated reason was, ‘We don’t think Ben Solo could be alive.’ And that was all we were told. And so there’s nothing to do about it, you know, except move on.”
The director further shared his personal disappointment regarding the project’s cancellation:
“I’d kind of made the movie in my head, and just felt bad that nobody else was going to get to see it,”
he explained.
“I thought the conversation was strictly going to be a practical one— where they go, what is this going to cost? And I had a really good answer for that. But it never even got to that point. It’s insane. We’re all very disappointed.”
Details About the Canceled Sequel and Disney’s Rationale
The project, reportedly titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, was first revealed last year by The Associated Press. Set to take place after The Rise of Skywalker, it promised to explore the character of Ben Solo, played by Adam Driver, in greater depth. Driver praised the script as
“one of the coolest f**king scripts”
he had joined, underscoring the enthusiasm surrounding the film.
However, Disney’s official explanation for halting the sequel was their inability to reconcile how Ben Solo could still be alive within the Star Wars timeline. This reasoning has drawn criticism, given the franchise’s history of reviving characters previously thought dead. For example, Palpatine was reintroduced as the antagonist in The Rise of Skywalker, despite his apparent death in 1983’s Return of the Jedi.
Future Prospects and Fan Reactions
Currently, The Hunt for Ben Solo remains shelved indefinitely. While there is no indication that Disney plans to revisit the project soon, fans have taken to social media platforms to rally support for its revival, urging the company to reconsider and bring the sequel to life. Whether this collective enthusiasm will lead to any change remains to be seen.
As Steven Soderbergh’s Disney frustration highlights, the cancellation reflects broader tensions within the franchise’s development process, revealing the challenges of balancing creative visions with corporate decisions in one of the world’s most beloved cinematic universes.
