Soderbergh Says Disney Rejected Ben Solo Film
Steven Soderbergh says Disney declined The Hunt for Ben Solo after roughly two and a half years of development, leaving creators and fans frustrated.
Overview
Steven Soderbergh said Disney rejected his Adam Driver-led The Hunt for Ben Solo project despite Lucasfilm's support.
Adam Driver publicly discussed the scrapped project in October 2025, and former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said the project was 'on the back burner'.
Soderbergh said he, Driver and producer Rebecca Blunt spent roughly two and a half years on the project and were frustrated after Disney executives including Bob Iger and Alan Bergman declined it.
Fans campaigned with a plane banner reading 'SAVE #THEHUNTFORBENSOLO,' and Soderbergh said he wrote four new scripts after the rejection.
Soderbergh said he returned to writing and has a new film, The Christophers, which was purchased by Neon.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Soderbergh’s aborted Star Wars project as a personal disappointment, using colloquial, evaluative language and foregrounding the director’s perspective. They emphasize loss and speculation, highlight his quoted frustration while omitting detailed studio rationale, and close with speculative optimism about a possible revival under new leadership.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Disney executives, including CEO Bob Iger and Entertainment co-chair Alan Bergman, raised concerns over narrative continuity, specifically questioning how Ben Solo could be alive after the events of 'The Rise of Skywalker,' where his character died.[1][3] This was cited as the official reason for the rejection, though Soderbergh noted it was the first time Disney had outright rejected a finished Lucasfilm script.[2]
Steven Soderbergh, Adam Driver, and writer Rebecca Blunt spent approximately two and a half years on the project with no compensation.[1][2] Scott Z. Burns was brought on to finalize the screenplay, earning $3 million—more than any writer in Lucasfilm history—and the project had reached early prep and staffing stages with a finished screenplay before Disney's rejection.[1]
Star Wars fans have launched a campaign to revive the project, with some supporters funding a plane to fly a banner over Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, reading 'Save The Hunt for Ben Solo.'[1] However, as of now, there has been no movement from Disney to reconsider the decision.[3]
The possibility remains uncertain. With Bob Iger's departure and Kathleen Kennedy stepping down as Lucasfilm president in January 2026, their successors might eventually revisit the project.[1] Kennedy herself stated that 'Anything's a possibility if somebody's willing to take a risk,' suggesting the door may not be entirely closed.[4]
History
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