Adam Driver Says His Star Wars Chapter Is Over, Though Ben Solo Film Could Change That

Adam Driver has drawn a firm line under his time in Star Wars, at least as things currently stand. The actor says he does not expect to make any more appearances as Kylo Ren, the conflicted antagonist and eventual Ben Solo redemption figure from the sequel trilogy. Yet there is one significant exception to that position: Driver would be willing to return if the canceled The Hunt for Ben Solo were brought back to life.

That caveat matters because the proposed film was not simply a speculative fan idea or a routine sequel-trilogy follow-up. Driver and director Steven Soderbergh spent two years developing the project, which was envisioned as a post-The Rise of Skywalker story centered on Ben Solo. The movie would have required the character's return after his apparent death in the 2019 film, a creative hurdle that ultimately proved too large for Disney's leadership to accept.

In a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Driver was asked whether he had a future in the galaxy far, far away. His answer was blunt: for him, it is over, and he does not anticipate more Star Wars. When the conversation turned specifically to the possibility of The Hunt for Ben Solo being revived, however, he confirmed he would be open to it. Even then, Driver's outlook was not optimistic. He believes the opportunity has passed.

A Finished Story, Except for One Unmade Film

Driver's answer reflects an unusual situation for a major franchise performer. He is not broadly presenting himself as available for cameos, new television arcs, multiverse-style detours, or an undefined future installment. Instead, his willingness appears tied to the particular movie he and Soderbergh had already shaped together.

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That distinction suggests the attraction was creative rather than merely nostalgic. Ben Solo's arc remains one of the sequel trilogy's most discussed elements. Introduced in The Force Awakens as the masked Kylo Ren, he began as a ruthless enforcer for the First Order, carrying the legacy of Darth Vader while rejecting the expectations of his parents, Leia Organa and Han Solo. The character became more morally complicated across The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, ultimately turning against Emperor Palpatine and helping Rey before seemingly sacrificing his own life.

For some viewers, that conclusion gave the character a definitive ending. For others, it left a story with considerable unfinished potential, particularly because Ben's redemption came so late. A standalone feature could have explored what life after that decision looked like, rather than treating redemption and death as inseparable. That basic premise is likely a major reason the project generated attention when its existence became public last year.

The working title, The Hunt for Ben Solo, also implies a story built around movement, danger, and consequence rather than a simple resurrection scene. No detailed plot has been confirmed, so it would be premature to assign specific villains, settings, or returning characters to the film. Still, the title alone points toward a version of Ben Solo forced to reckon with his past in a galaxy that would have many reasons to fear, distrust, or pursue him.

Why Disney Declined the Project

The central obstacle was reportedly not a lack of enthusiasm from everyone involved in the franchise. Kathleen Kennedy and other Star Wars leadership figures supported the project. The decisive resistance came from Disney, where decision-makers reportedly could not get behind bringing Kylo Ren back from the dead.

That concern is easy to understand from a franchise-management perspective. Character death has long been flexible in Star Wars, particularly in stories involving the Force, cloning, visions, and larger-than-life mythology. But a return needs to feel dramatically necessary, not simply convenient. In Ben Solo's case, the finality of his sacrifice was part of the emotional shape of The Rise of Skywalker. Undoing it would demand an explanation strong enough to justify revisiting that moment.

It is also possible that the studio sees the sequel trilogy as an era from which it wants some distance. The three films were enormous commercial events and introduced characters who remain widely recognized, but audience reaction became increasingly divided. The trilogy's creative direction shifted between installments, and debates around Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren, Palpatine's return, and the ending have continued long after the credits rolled.

In that environment, a Ben Solo movie could represent either a focused attempt to revisit one of the era's most compelling characters or a return to one of the franchise's most contentious periods. Disney's rejection indicates that, at least at the time the proposal was considered, the risks outweighed the perceived benefit.

Fan Support Has Not Changed the Outlook

Calls for Ben Solo's return have persisted online, and the abandoned film became a rallying point for fans who wanted to see Driver revisit the role. But enthusiasm from an audience does not automatically turn an unproduced project into an active one. Major franchise films require agreement on story, budget, release strategy, and long-term brand direction, especially when the proposal asks a studio to overturn an established on-screen outcome.

The present status is especially clear because Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni said earlier this summer that The Hunt for Ben Solo was not in active development. Soderbergh has also moved on. The filmmaker has expressed little interest in returning to the project, with the view that if it were going to happen, it likely would have happened already.

That combination makes a revival difficult to envision. Driver would need to be interested, Soderbergh would likely need to be persuaded to return or replaced, Lucasfilm would need to recommit, and Disney would need to solve the exact problem that led it to say no in the first place. None of those conditions appears to be in place now.

Star Wars Moves Forward With Episode 10

While the Ben Solo concept remains dormant, Disney is continuing work on Star Wars Episode 10. Jon Watts, director of Spider-Man: No Way Home, is attached to direct. The project's story remains under wraps, and it has not been confirmed whether sequel-trilogy leads such as Rey or Finn will return.

That uncertainty leaves the next major theatrical chapter wide open. It could reconnect directly with the world left behind by The Rise of Skywalker, use familiar characters in a more limited capacity, or move further away from the sequel era entirely. Until Disney provides a clearer outline, it is impossible to tell whether Episode 10 might ever create a natural path back toward Ben Solo's story.

For now, though, Driver's comments should be read as a farewell rather than a teaser. He is not signaling a secret production, a planned announcement, or a forthcoming return. His position is that Kylo Ren is behind him. The exception is meaningful only because it is so specific: if the film he developed with Soderbergh somehow returned, he would consider stepping back into the role.

Soderbergh's Next Assignment Is Gotham

Soderbergh's schedule further emphasizes how far the proposed Star Wars feature has receded. He is currently helping with the final weeks of production on The Batman Part 2. Matt Reeves had to step away from filming because of a personal matter, and Soderbergh joined the production to assist while working within Reeves' established vision.

The arrangement is intended to allow Reeves to take back over for post-production, rather than turn the sequel into a fundamentally different film. It also illustrates Soderbergh's ability to move between distinctive studio projects while maintaining a collaborative role. His connection to The Hunt for Ben Solo remains a fascinating what-if for Star Wars fans, but his attention is now on another major franchise universe.

As things stand, The Hunt for Ben Solo is a canceled film with no active development status, no confirmed path to revival, and no indication that Disney has reconsidered its decision. Driver's willingness to return does keep the door technically unlocked. But the actor's broader message is unmistakable: unless that very specific project is revived, his time as Kylo Ren has reached its end.