Steven Soderbergh Reveals Frustration Over Scrapped Ben Solo 'Star Wars' Movie

The Oscar-winning director says he and Adam Driver worked on the project for over two years before Disney pulled the plug.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Steven Soderbergh has opened up about his disappointment over Disney's decision to scrap his planned Star Wars sequel centered on Adam Driver's character Ben Solo. Soderbergh says he and Driver spent over two years developing the project, titled "The Hunt for Ben Solo," only for Lucasfilm to ultimately reject it because they "didn't see how Ben Solo was alive." The director expressed frustration over the decision, stating that he and the creative team had put in a significant amount of work on the film.

Why it matters

Soderbergh's comments provide insight into the creative process behind Star Wars projects and the challenges filmmakers can face when working within the franchise. The scrapping of "The Hunt for Ben Solo" also highlights the level of control Disney maintains over the Star Wars universe, even when acclaimed directors like Soderbergh are involved.

The details

According to Soderbergh, he, Driver, and screenwriter Rebecca Blunt had outlined a story and Scott Z. Burns had written a script that they felt captured the "handmade and character-driven" feel of The Empire Strikes Back. They presented the script to Lucasfilm, who loved the idea, but when they took it to Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, the project was rejected because they "didn't see how Ben Solo was alive." Soderbergh said he and the creative team were all "frustrated" by the decision, especially since they had put in over two years of "free work" on the project.

  • In October 2025, Adam Driver revealed details about the scrapped Ben Solo movie in an interview.
  • In February 2026, Steven Soderbergh discussed his disappointment over the project's cancellation in an interview with BK Magazine.

The players

Steven Soderbergh

An Oscar-winning filmmaker who was set to direct the scrapped Ben Solo Star Wars movie.

Adam Driver

The actor who was set to star as Ben Solo/Kylo Ren in the scrapped Star Wars movie.

Rebecca Blunt

The screenwriter who worked with Soderbergh and Driver on developing the story for the scrapped Ben Solo movie.

Scott Z. Burns

The screenwriter who wrote the script for the scrapped Ben Solo movie that Soderbergh, Driver, and Blunt had developed.

Kathleen Kennedy

The former president of Lucasfilm who oversaw the decision to reject the Ben Solo movie project.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We were all frustrated. You know, that was two and a half years of free work for me and Adam and [screenwriter] Rebecca Blunt.”

— Steven Soderbergh, Director (BK Magazine)

“I'd kind of made the movie in my head, and just felt bad that nobody else was going to get to see it.”

— Steven Soderbergh, Director (BK Magazine)

“We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it. We took it to [Disney execs] Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, and they said no. They didn't see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that.”

— Adam Driver (Associated Press)

What’s next

Lucasfilm and Disney have not indicated any plans to revisit the Ben Solo movie project in the future.

The takeaway

The scrapping of Soderbergh and Driver's Ben Solo movie highlights the tight control Disney maintains over the Star Wars franchise, even when acclaimed filmmakers are involved. It also demonstrates the challenges creators can face when pitching new stories within an established universe like Star Wars.