Earlier this week, Adam Driver caused quite a stir in the Star Wars universe with his revelation about The Hunt for Ben Solo. Developed alongside director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns, the film was said to have received backing from Lucasfilm but was ultimately scrapped by Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman. A new report indicates that this project was indeed progressing well before it met its untimely demise.
Playlist notes that The Hunt for Ben Solo—set after The Rise of Skywalker—was designed to resurrect the titular character, who had sacrificed himself to revive Rey. Reportedly, Lucasfilm had internally greenlit the film, putting it in a strong position for eventual approval from Disney executives.
This means the film, developed under the codename “Quiet Leaves,” had a finalized script and was moving into early staffing and pre-production phases after approval from Lucasfilm. Disney had already acquired a “beat sheet” outlining key events and emotional beats to guide the screenplay, written by Soderbergh and his wife, Jules Asner, under the pen name Rebecca Blunt.
Burns, who previously contributed to Star Wars projects, was allegedly compensated more than any screenwriter in Lucasfilm’s history for his work on the script. It seems that Lucasfilm had not yet embarked on a new Star Wars production after The Rise of Skywalker when they deemed The Hunt for Ben Solo ready for filming. It was then presented to Disney with a finalized script and budget, only to face rejection due to confusion over the character of redeemed Kylo Ren.
We reached out to Lucasfilm for confirmation regarding Playlist’s claims and will keep our readers updated on any responses. Notably, an account believed to belong to Soderbergh recently posted on Bluesky about the project, expressing discomfort over having kept its existence secret until now. This account also mentioned a conversation with Kathy Kennedy, who confirmed that this was the first time a finished movie script had been rejected after being greenlit by Lucasfilm.
Both Driver and Soderbergh seem comfortable discussing The Hunt for Ben Solo now, given the positive fan reactions and their belief that the project is permanently shelved. They no longer seem to be bound by any confidentiality agreements, in contrast to previous leaks.
In addition to The Hunt for Ben Solo, Playlist discussed claims about director David Fincher’s efforts to develop another Star Wars film that was ultimately not pursued. Contrary to earlier reports, it appears that Fincher’s concept never progressed far beyond initial conversations and remained below Lucasfilm’s radar.
As developments unfold regarding Lucasfilm’s future plans, it’s clear that the Star Wars franchise continues to captivate both fans and creators.
What was the status of The Hunt for Ben Solo before it was scrapped?
Prior to its cancellation, The Hunt for Ben Solo was reportedly in early pre-production phases with a finalized script, following internal approval from Lucasfilm.
Why was The Hunt for Ben Solo rejected by Disney executives?
The Disney executives, Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, rejected The Hunt for Ben Solo due to confusion surrounding the survival of Kylo Ren, the film’s titular character.
What do we know about the development team behind The Hunt for Ben Solo?
The film was developed by Adam Driver, paired with director Steven Soderbergh and screenwriter Scott Z. Burns, who was reportedly the highest-paid screenwriter in Lucasfilm history for this project.
Are there any other Star Wars films currently in development?
As of now, Lucasfilm has not announced any new projects following the release of The Rise of Skywalker, leaving fans eager for updates.
For more insights into the Star Wars universe and potential upcoming releases, stay tuned to Moyens I/O for all the latest news and updates.