Kathleen Kennedy confirmed that Lucasfilm was indeed developing the movie "The Hunt for Ben Solo" and called the project's script "magnificent." In an interview with Deadline, timed to coincide with her departure as president of the studio, Kennedy said that the script was written by Steven Soderbergh, Scott Burns, and Adam Driver, but the project never received approval from Disney.
"Steve Soderbergh and Adam Driver presented a script written by Scott Burns. It was simply magnificent. Anything is possible if someone is willing to take a chance."
This remark sounds like a veiled reproach to Disney, which, according to project participants, did not dare to give it the green light.
"The Hunt for Ben Solo" was conceived as a chamber continuation of "The Rise of Skywalker," focused on the inner rebirth of Han Solo and Leia Organa's son. According to Adam Driver, the story was supposed to explore the consequences of redemption and Ben's return to the light side.
The project was in development for several years. Driver brought in Steven Soderbergh, with whom he had previously collaborated, and the script was finalized with the participation of Rebecca Blunt and Scott Burns. Sources claim that Lucasfilm supported the idea, but at the Disney level, the film was rejected — the studio did not see a convincing way to explain Ben Solo's return after his death in the saga finale.
Despite this, the story has not faded into the shadows. In the fall of 2025, Star Wars fans launched a large-scale campaign in support of the project: they created petitions, distributed posters with the hashtag #TheHuntForBenSolo, and in January 2026, they even paid for billboards in Times Square in New York. They depicted the silhouette of Ben Solo with the inscription: "May 2026 revive hope in the galaxy and bring him home."
The initiator of the movement was screenwriter and voice actress Brianna Jones.
"We understand what we are asking for. But if we prove that there is interest in the film, Disney may reconsider its decision. And isn't hope what Star Wars is all about?"
It is not yet known whether "The Hunt for Ben Solo" will return to development after Kathleen Kennedy's departure and the arrival of the new Lucasfilm management team — Dave Filoni and Linwen Brennan.