Another Star Wars comeback appears to be off the table for good.
Since Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, the franchise has undergone several changes in direction. While Disney+ has delivered shows such as The Mandalorian, Andor, and Ahsoka, the theatrical slate has been less predictable, with numerous announced projects failing to reach production.
Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron, Taika Waititi’s proposed film, and the long-awaited return of Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker have all faced uncertain futures. Meanwhile, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu brought the franchise back to theaters in May 2026.
Lucasfilm’s next scheduled theatrical release is Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling. The film, which also features Amy Adams and Matt Smith, is due to arrive on May 28, 2027.
However, another proposed film had already progressed much further than many fans realized before Disney executives rejected it. Now, one of the franchise’s biggest stars has offered a disappointing update.
Adam Driver Addresses His Canceled ‘Star Wars’ Movie
Adam Driver has seemingly closed the door on returning as Kylo Ren, also known as Ben Solo, following Disney’s decision to abandon The Hunt for Ben Solo.
During a November 4 appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, the actor was asked whether he expected to return to the franchise.
“Yeah, it’s over… No more ‘Star Wars,'” Driver replied.
The proposed film would have continued Ben Solo’s story following the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), which concluded the sequel trilogy.
Driver first revealed the project’s existence in October 2025, explaining that he had spent approximately two years developing the film alongside director Steven Soderbergh and writers Scott Z. Burns and Rebecca Blunt.
The team produced a completed screenplay, which Driver described as “really good.” Lucasfilm executives reportedly supported the proposal, but Disney’s then-CEO Bob Iger and Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman refused to approve it.
Their objection concerned Ben Solo’s death in The Rise of Skywalker. Despite the character sacrificing himself to resurrect Rey (Daisy Ridley), Driver and Soderbergh had developed a story exploring what happened next.
The cancellation was especially unusual. According to The Wrap, Soderbergh said that Kathleen Kennedy had told him it was the first time Disney had rejected a completed Star Wars screenplay submitted by Lucasfilm.
Although Driver hasn’t entirely ruled out another attempt, he doesn’t expect Disney to change its mind.
“I think the ship has sailed though,” he admitted.
His comments follow similar remarks from Soderbergh, who addressed the possibility of resurrecting the film in April 2026, following leadership changes at Disney and Lucasfilm.
“Look, if it was gonna happen, it would have happened,” the director told The Playlist. “It’s that simple.”
Driver also declined to reveal further details about the screenplay during his latest interview, leaving fans with little indication of how Ben Solo would have returned.
‘Star Wars’ Fans Refuse to Give Up on Ben Solo
The latest comments come more than a year after fans launched an unusually public campaign to save The Hunt for Ben Solo.
Supporters purchased billboards and even organized a plane to fly over Disney’s corporate offices in Burbank, California, carrying a message urging the company to reconsider its decision.
Driver described the response as “pretty incredible,” admitting he hadn’t expected fans to go to such lengths.
However, his latest remarks have done little to discourage those still hoping for another appearance from Kylo Ren.
“Ben Solo will come back! If not in #thehuntforbensolo it will be in Episode X,” wrote one fan on X.
That possibility has attracted fresh attention following September’s report that Jon Watts will direct the first installment of a new Star Wars trilogy, written by Simon Kinberg. Whether the films will feature established sequel trilogy characters remains unconfirmed.
Other fans have been more critical of Disney’s original decision.
“There goes the only good character in the entire trilogy, godspeed to Kylo Ren,” said one Reddit user. “He was genuinely as good as the best from the prequels.”
Another fan wrote on X, “Call me absolutely INSANE but if Disney said pick one of these movies and they will be made – Darth Vader movie, The Hunt for Ben Solo movie, Old Republic movie – I’m picking The Hunt for Ben Solo.”
A third commented, “Disney’s mismanagement of the SW property needs to be studied, a comical list of mistakes this long is hard to imagine.”
The character’s potential return has remained a popular talking point since The Rise of Skywalker, particularly among fans invested in Ben Solo’s relationship with Rey and their mysterious connection through the Force.
For now, Lucasfilm is concentrating on other projects. Season two of Ahsoka is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ on January 20, 2027, while Starfighter will arrive in theaters four months later.
Neither project is expected to revive The Hunt for Ben Solo. With Driver and Soderbergh both expressing doubts about its future, the proposed sequel appears unlikely to move forward.
Do you think Disney should reconsider its decision to abandon The Hunt for Ben Solo?
