Topic / Subject
Steven Soderbergh claims Disney/Lucasfilm abruptly killed a Star Wars sequel concept called “The Hunt for Ben Solo” after roughly 2.5 years of development.

TL;DR
Per Entertainment Weekly’s recap, Soderbergh says he was told the project died because “we don’t think Ben Solo could be alive,” and that the shutdown happened before budget talks even began.

Key Details

• EW reports Soderbergh said “The Hunt for Ben Solo” was developed for about two-and-a-half years before Disney scrapped it.
• EW reports Soderbergh says the reason given was “We don’t think Ben Solo could be alive,” and that was “all we were told.”
• EW reports the concept would’ve followed The Rise of Skywalker and centered on Adam Driver’s Ben Solo/Kylo Ren.
• EW reports Soderbergh called it “insane” that the decision came before budget and other production details were discussed.

Breakdown
This lands because it fits the long-running Lucasfilm vibe: big swings, long development, sudden pivots. But the difference here is the source: it’s Soderbergh publicly describing the experience as a waste of time.

The Ben Solo angle is also instant discourse fuel. The franchise is still arguing about canon, consequences, and what “alive” means post–Rise of Skywalker, so even a hypothetical pitch becomes a fandom grenade.

One important limitation: this is one side of the story. Disney/Lucasfilm hasn’t publicly laid out its version of events in the coverage cited here.

What to Watch Next

• Whether Disney/Lucasfilm responds on record or lets it pass.
• Any corroboration from other creatives tied to the rumored development.
• If elements of the concept resurface in another format (animation, comics, limited series).

Sources
Variety — Disney Axed “Star Wars” Sequel “The Hunt for Ben Solo”…
Entertainment Weekly — Steven Soderbergh admits frustration over scrapped Ben Solo “Star Wars” movie…
The Daily Beast — Steven Soderbergh Blasts Disney for Wasting His Time on Star Wars Movie

Comment
Would you even want Ben Solo back, or should Star Wars stop resurrecting characters and move forward?