Adam Driver Discusses His Standalone Kylo Ren Star Wars Movie Concept
Adam Driver has disclosed that this project would have delved into Kylo Ren’s journey toward redemption after The Rise of Skywalker
Adam Driver recently opened up about a standalone Star Wars project named The Hunt for Ben Solo. This film, developed over two years with director Steven Soderbergh, was set to take place after The Rise of Skywalker and would follow Driver’s character, Kylo Ren, on a redemptive path. The collaboration included notable writers like Rebecca Blunt and Scott Z. Burns.
Driver shared, “I’ve always been eager to work on another Star Wars project.” He recalled his discussions with Kathleen Kennedy dating back to 2021, emphasizing, “With a great director and a captivating story, I’d jump at the chance.” He described the film as both “handmade and character-driven,” drawing parallels to the iconic The Empire Strikes Back, which he considers the benchmark for what a Star Wars film should embody.
Soderbergh and Driver pitched The Hunt for Ben Solo to key Lucasfilm figures, including Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni, who were enthusiastic about the idea. However, when the pitch reached Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, it faced rejection. “We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They saw the potential,” Driver revisited. “But Disney did not find it credible for Ben Solo to come back from the dead.”
Reflecting on the experience, Soderbergh remarked, “Creating the movie in my mind was fulfilling. It’s disappointing that fans won’t have the chance to see it.” Driver echoed his sentiments, labeling the script as “one of the coolest [expletive] projects I’ve ever worked on.”
Driver first embraced the role of Kylo Ren in The Force Awakens (2015) and reprised it in The Last Jedi (2017) and The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Representatives for Disney and Lucasfilm have opted not to comment on this project.
On the Work Front
This autumn, Driver will be featured in his third collaboration with Jim Jarmusch in the Venice prize-winning film Father Mother Sister Brother. Driver expressed his readiness to join the project: “Once Jarmusch reached out, I was all in, regardless of the role.”
