Adam Driver reveals that Disney canceled his return as Ben Solo- Grupo Milenio

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​Ben Solo’s sacrifice and the canonical dilemma that stopped the sequel

The continuation proposal, provisionally titled ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’ (The Hunt for Ben Solo), was faced with an insurmountable obstacle in the narrative line established by Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.

Ben Solo culminated his redemption arc by sacrificing himself to save Rey (Daisy Ridley) after her final confrontation against Palpatine.

The key moment, and point of controversy for the sequel, is the Ben Solo’s body fading in the Forcea canonical destiny that implies his definitive death and communion with the Jedi cosmos, leaving his return in the future very difficult to justify.

The script, co-written by Scott Z. Burns, was described by Driver as “one of the coolest scripts I’ve ever been involved with.” The project, which sought a more artisanal and character-focused tone —which Driver compared to The Empire Strikes Back— was well received by the Force division.

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The final veto: “They didn’t see how he was alive”

While Lucasfilm (Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni and Cary Beck) “loved the idea” and “understood our angle perfectly,” the enthusiasm stopped at the corporate offices. The script was met with direct rejection from Disney CEO Bob Iger, and co-president Alan Bergman.

“We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was it,” Driver said.

Director Steven Soderbergh confirmed the story, expressing his resignation:

“I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry that fans won’t be able to see it.”

The corporate decision underscores Disney’s caution in altering the ending of the sequel trilogy, an ending that was widely criticized by a portion of the fan base.

The projects of the New Jedi Order

The cancellation of The Hunt for Ben Solo contrasts with Lucasfilm’s active plans for the cinematic future of Star Wars.

The saga film with a currently confirmed release date is ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu’which will hit theaters on May 22, 2026.

This film, directed by Jon Favreau, marks the first Star Wars film release since 2019 and focuses on the characters from the acclaimed Disney+ series.

Regarding the project of the “New Jedi Order” with Daisy Ridley (King), although it has been announced, its development and release date remain flexible and after the Mandalorian movie, reflecting a cautious programming strategy on Disney’s part after the controversies of the sequel trilogy.

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With Driver’s confirmation that the Kylo Ren project “no longer exists,” the actor seems to have closed the door upon his return, leaving Ben Solo’s redemption as a final and immovable event for the saga, despite the efforts of his team.

The actor concluded with the final closing:

“It was called The Hunt for Ben Solo and it was really cool. But it doesn’t exist anymore, so I can finally talk about it.”

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