Steven Soderbergh Reveals Advice He Gave Adam Driver on Scrapped Kylo Ren Movie

The director opened up about the disappointment behind the project's cancellation by Disney.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Adam Driver revealed last October that he had teamed up with director Steven Soderbergh and writer Rebecca Blunt to develop a story following Kylo Ren, a.k.a. Ben Solo, after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. However, Lucasfilm ultimately decided not to move forward with the project. In a new interview, Soderbergh discussed the disappointment behind the cancellation and the advice he gave Driver when it came to discussing the scrapped movie publicly.

Why it matters

The proposed Kylo Ren movie would have provided fans with a rare opportunity to see Adam Driver reprise the character after the conclusion of the Skywalker saga. While there are other avenues for Kylo Ren's story to continue, such as novels, comics, and video games, this would have been Driver's last chance to portray the character on screen. The cancellation of the project has left many fans disappointed.

The details

According to Soderbergh, he, Driver, and Blunt had been working on the Kylo Ren movie for two and a half years, pouring a significant amount of unpaid effort into developing the story. However, the project was ultimately shut down by Disney's higher-ups, who felt that Ben Solo could not be resurrected after his sacrifice in The Rise of Skywalker. Soderbergh revealed that Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy was frustrated by the decision, but the stated reason was that Disney did not believe Ben Solo could still be alive.

  • In October 2025, Adam Driver revealed the existence of the scrapped Kylo Ren movie.
  • Soderbergh's interview with BKMag discussing the project's cancellation took place in February 2026.

The players

Steven Soderbergh

An American filmmaker who directed Adam Driver in the film Logan Lucky and was involved in developing the scrapped Kylo Ren movie.

Adam Driver

An American actor best known for his portrayal of Kylo Ren, also known as Ben Solo, in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

Rebecca Blunt

A writer who collaborated with Soderbergh and Driver on the development of the scrapped Kylo Ren movie.

Kathleen Kennedy

The president of Lucasfilm, who was reportedly frustrated by the decision to cancel the Kylo Ren movie project.

Alan Horn

The former co-chairman and chief creative officer of The Walt Disney Company, who was involved in the decision to cancel the Kylo Ren movie.

Bob Iger

The former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, who was also involved in the decision to cancel the Kylo Ren movie.

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What they’re saying

“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 (BKMag)

“And 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 (BKMag)

What’s next

With new leadership at Lucasfilm and Disney, there is a possibility that the Kylo Ren movie could be revived in the future, but for now, fans will have to wait and see if the project ever comes to fruition.

The takeaway

The cancellation of the Kylo Ren movie project highlights the challenges and creative constraints that filmmakers can face when working within the expansive Star Wars universe, even when they have the support of key figures like Kathleen Kennedy. While the reasons for the project's demise remain unclear, the disappointment expressed by Soderbergh and Driver underscores the missed opportunity for fans to see a unique take on the character's story.