Adam Driver Reveals Why Disney Rejected Ben Solo ‘Star Wars’ Sequel
Adam Driver recently disclosed that Disney rejected a proposed Star Wars sequel focused on his character, Ben Solo. Despite Lucasfilm’s support for the project, Disney executives ultimately decided against it. Driver made these revelations during an interview with The Associated Press.
Background on Ben Solo and Kylo Ren
Adam Driver portrayed Ben Solo, the son of iconic characters Han Solo and Leia Organa, in the Star Wars saga. He is also the grandson of Anakin Skywalker, known as Darth Vader. Initially a hero, his character transformed into the villain Kylo Ren throughout the trilogy.
Sequel Concept Development
- The idea for the sequel emerged in 2021.
- Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, expressed interest.
- Driver believed a great director and story were essential for the project.
Driver collaborated with filmmaker Steven Soderbergh to develop the sequel concept. The film was designed to explore Ben Solo’s life after events in 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Soderbergh and writer Rebecca Blunt initially outlined the story.
Script Development
Scott Z. Burns was brought on board to pen the script. Driver described it as “one of the coolest scripts” he had encountered. The team presented their script to Lucasfilm, which reacted positively and understood their vision.
Disney’s Rejection
Although the project appeared to be gaining momentum, it faced a major obstacle at Disney. Driver recounted his disappointment when he and the team presented the idea to Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, who ultimately rejected it. They did not see how Ben Solo could return.
Final Thoughts
Driver expressed frustration about the project’s demise, stating that the idea was exciting but now non-existent. Soderbergh echoed this sentiment, stating he enjoyed conceptualizing the film and lamented that fans would miss out on it.
As it stands, Lucasfilm has not provided any comments regarding the rejected sequel. The future of Ben Solo’s story remains uncertain for fans of the Star Wars franchise.
