In October, it became known that Steven Soderbergh and Adam Driver had pitched a Kylo Ren spinoff film set after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. The project, titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, proposed to follow the son of Han Solo and Leia Organa as he sought redemption after his affiliation with the First Order. Despite enthusiasm, the film was ultimately rejected, with the studio doubting the possibility of Kylo Ren’s survival following his apparent sacrifice to save Rey in the saga’s conclusion. This decision left the creative team disappointed, highlighting the challenges of expanding the Star Wars narrative.
Details on the Rejected Screenplay and Reactions from Creators
The script, written by Scott Z. Burns, known for his work on Contagion, was praised by Adam Driver as one of the best he had encountered. However, Lucasfilm declined the proposal, citing narrative inconsistencies regarding Kylo Ren’s fate. Steven Soderbergh expressed frustration about the outcome in a recent Brooklyn Magazine interview, noting the effort invested by himself, Driver, and Rebecca Blunt over two and a half years.
“You know, that was two-and-a-half years of free work for me and Adam and [screenwriter] Rebecca Blunt. When Adam and I discussed him talking about it publicly, I said, ‘Look, do not editorialize 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.”
Steven Soderbergh, Director
Soderbergh also shared how much the project meant to him creatively, having envisioned the film fully before realizing it would remain unseen.
“As I posted, I’d kind of made the movie in my head, and just felt bad that nobody else was going to get to see it. 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.”
Steven Soderbergh, Director
Lucasfilm Leadership Changes and Future Implications
The aborted Kylo Ren project was pitched during Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership of Lucasfilm, which she is stepping down from after nearly 14 years. In an exit discussion with Deadline, Kennedy acknowledged the quality of The Hunt for Ben Solo script, calling it “just great” and admitting it remained “on the back burner” alongside James Mangold’s Indiana Jones effort. Kennedy will be succeeded by Dave Filoni, the creator of Clone Wars and Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer, as well as Lynwen Brennan, the company’s Business President and General Manager. These changes signal a transitional period for Lucasfilm’s creative direction and may affect future projects within the Star Wars universe.
