Soderbergh Frustrated After Disney Scraps His Kylo Ren Star Wars Film

The Oscar-winning director says he and Adam Driver spent over 2 years developing a post-Rise of Skywalker movie that Disney ultimately rejected.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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In a recent interview, director Steven Soderbergh expressed his frustration after Disney canceled his planned Star Wars spin-off film focused on Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, played by Adam Driver. Soderbergh said he and Driver had spent over 2 years developing the project, titled "The Hunt for Ben Solo," only for Disney to ultimately reject it, citing concerns that Ben Solo could not be alive after the events of The Rise of Skywalker.

Why it matters

Soderbergh's canceled Star Wars film represents a rare instance of creative tension between a prominent director and the Disney-owned Lucasfilm. The decision highlights Disney's tight control over the Star Wars franchise and its reluctance to stray too far from established canon, even for acclaimed filmmakers.

The details

According to Soderbergh, he and writer Rebecca Blunt (Soderbergh's wife) had spent 2.5 years developing "The Hunt for Ben Solo," which would have featured Adam Driver reprising his role as the conflicted Kylo Ren/Ben Solo in the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker. However, Disney ultimately rejected the project, telling Soderbergh and Driver that they "don't think Ben Solo could be alive" after the events of the previous film.

  • In February 2026, Soderbergh discussed the canceled Star Wars film in an interview with BK Mag.
  • In October 2025, details about "The Hunt for Ben Solo" first surfaced in an Associated Press interview with Adam Driver.

The players

Steven Soderbergh

An Oscar-winning director known for films like Erin Brockovich, Contagion, and the Ocean's trilogy, who had developed a Star Wars spin-off focused on Kylo Ren/Ben Solo that was ultimately canceled by Disney.

Adam Driver

The actor who portrayed Kylo Ren/Ben Solo in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, and was set to reprise the role in Soderbergh's canceled film.

Rebecca Blunt

The pen name of Jules Asner, Soderbergh's wife, who co-wrote the screenplay for the canceled Star Wars film with the director.

Disney

The media conglomerate that owns Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise, and ultimately decided to cancel Soderbergh's planned Kylo Ren-focused film.

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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 [writer] Rebecca Blunt.”

— Steven Soderbergh, Director (BK Mag)

“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 (BK Mag)

“We wanted to be judicial about how to spend money and be economical with it, and do it for less than most but in the same spirit of what those movies are, which is handmade and character-driven.”

— Adam Driver (Associated Press)

The takeaway

Soderbergh's canceled Star Wars film highlights the creative tensions that can arise between acclaimed directors and the corporate owners of major franchises like Disney. Despite Soderbergh and Driver's enthusiasm for the project, Disney ultimately deemed it incompatible with the established Star Wars canon, underscoring the studio's tight control over the beloved sci-fi universe.