Disney Has Restored My Hope For Star Wars: The Hunt For Ben Solo Actually Happening

In late 2025, it was revealed that Adam Driver had pitched Lucasfilm a Ben Solo-focused Star Wars film called The Hunt for Ben Solo. Meant to take place after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Driver worked with director Steven Soderbergh to develop the pitch. But the promising idea hit a dead end once it came to Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, who opted not to give it a greenlight, despite The Hunt for Ben Solo having Lucasfilm's approval.

Developed in secret, it wasn't until Driver spilled the beans in October 2025 that fans learned Disney decided not to move forward with a Ben Solo movie. Even in the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker, appreciation for Driver's portrayal of Solo left most wanting to see more of him. That's why once the news got out, a contingent of the Star Wars fandom rallied around the canceled movie.

Despite the best efforts of fans to support the movie and plead with Disney to reverse its decision, The Hunt for Ben Solo looked like it would forever be included in the list of Star Wars movies that were canceled. Soderbergh mentioned in April 2026 that he had moved on, with Lucasfilm's new leadership under Dave Filoni reaffirming there were no plans to make the film after the online support.

Rather than the chances being at zero that The Hunt for Ben Solo will see the light of day, Disney has created a new hope. Driver has linked up with the studio once more to play a key role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the same time that Filoni's tune has slightly shifted. It's enough to offer some semblance of optimism that we haven't seen the last of Ben Solo after all.

Adam Driver's Disney Return Is A Positive Sign For More Ben Solo

After Disney execs axed The Hunt for Ben Solo, it was unclear where Driver's relationship with the studio was at. He was clearly passionate about the idea and wanted to make this Star Wars movie, so having higher ups prevent that due to concerns over explaining Ben's return or budgeting could have pushed him away.

But that is not the case now that Driver is playing X-Men's villain in the MCU. He was officially confirmed to play Mister Sinister during D23. While Driver is only confirmed to be in the single Marvel movie, this is a role that should keep him as part of the expansive universe for multiple films. Essentially, he's agreed to work with Disney for years and take on a villain role in another one of their biggest franchises.

That is good news for him playing Ben Solo again. It confirms that he still has a good relationship with Disney. Driver has always had a strong relationship with Lucasfilm, so there does not seem to be any studio politics that would get in the way of him coming back to the galaxy far, far away, whether for The Hunt for Ben Solo or a different Star Wars project altogether.

One almost has to wonder if Driver could have leveraged Marvel's well-chronicled years-long pursuit of him in negotiations with Disney. Could he have made an arrangement where Disney greenlights The Hunt for Ben Solo if X-Men is a hit? That seems unlikely. Even without an official deal, Driver is savvy enough to know that doing the MCU role can re-establish him as a major box office star and possibly help him convince Disney to make The Hunt for Ben Solo in a few years.

With Driver back in the Disney family, it's notable that Filoni was also then pressed with questions about The Hunt for Ben Solo's future at D23. Variety was the first to ask Lucasfilm's president about the canceled movie, and he noted that he knew he would be asked about it. His official response was "We're not making [The Hunt for Ben Solo] right now," but it was accompanied by him doing the Jedi Mind Trick hand wave.

The response and gesture indicate fans shouldn't lose all hope in The Hunt for Ben Solo being made. His quote is notable for saying "right now," suggesting that the door is not complebox tely closed on this project. Doing the Jedi Mind Trick signal also could fuel some positivity. It may have been (probably was) just him messing around, but it also could be seen as him trying to conceal information he otherwise can't disclose.

Filoni was also asked by Deadline about the film's status at the convention, and he had a similar, but different, response. He said, "It's not here. You won't find it here. The Force is not with us in that regard." It's another quote that makes it clear the movie isn't happening right now and wouldn't be discussed at D23 but also still left room for hope.

It would have been very easy for Filoni to come out and say The Hunt for Ben Solo is not happening now and never will happen. Him saying that the movie is not being made "right now" and not "here [at D23]" leaves room for interpretation that Lucasfilm's new president is still considering how the studios and Driver can make a Ben Solo feature down the road.

The Hunt For Ben Solo Would Be An Easy Win For Star Wars Now

It would make a lot of sense for the Star Wars franchise to find a way to get The Hunt for Ben Solo made. There is a certain level of demand for it based on its online and real-life campaigns. While Disney and Lucasfilm need a lot more interest to avoid another Star Wars movie bombing at the box office after The Mandalorian and Grogu, there is reason to believe general audiences would be enthusiastic to see Driver back in this role.

Lucasfilm would also get an easy win by getting The Hunt for Ben Solo made, as it would show that they do listen to fans in positive ways. The studio has already proven it listens to fans with how it pivoted the Skywalker Saga after The Last Jedi's backlash, but its decisions from there only caused more divide within the fandom. The Hunt for Ben Solo is a chance to unite the community around the excitement of Ben's return and a feeling of victory that fans are getting what they want.

The benefits for Lucasfilm would extend to how the studio and Star Wars as a franchise are perceived. Getting Soderbergh back to make the movie would do wonders for enlisting other top-tier directors, especially if he goes on to sign the studio's praises about his freedom while making the film. Additionally, it could help erase some concerns that directors could spend years working on Star Wars movies that never happen. There's no downside of The Hunt for Ben Solo.

Star Wars Returning To The Sequel Era Is Happening One Way Or Another

The Hunt for Ben Solo would be a natural way to expand the sequel era of Star Wars that has been ridiculously successful for Disney and Lucasfilm financially speaking. It's why Lucasfilm is going back to this section of galaxy repeatedly in the years ahead with its upcoming Star Wars movies in development.

A standalone movie for Daisy Ridley's Rey has been in development for years that would take place after The Rise of Skywalker. Simon Kinberg is known to be developing a new trilogy, which might just be Episodes X, XI, and XII. Even Ryan Gosling's upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter is confirmed to take place after the sequel trilogy's events and could connect to it somehow.

The influx of sequel era programming makes Ben Solo's return all the more feasible. It would be most exciting if it came in The Hunt for Ben Solo, but elements of his and Soderbergh's pitch could always wind up being infused into any of these other projects to facilitate Driver's come back. Hopefully, it's a matter of when and where we see Ben Solo again, not if he ever comes back.