Ever since the announcement of the trinity of films at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2023, Lucasfilm has been pretty quiet on updates for these projects, with us hearing the most about Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey film, New Jedi Order, and its various screenwriters. Yet the first new movie beyond The Mandalorian and Grogu announced and in production is one we didn’t hear about until it was basically all set to go, 2027’s Starfighter. Though as the news broke about a shelved The Hunt for Ben Solo film, first from the young Solo himself, Adam Driver, and then an insider report via The Playlist, it hinted at why there’s maybe been a reshuffling of projects.
As reported, The Hunt for Ben Solo would’ve taken place after The Rise of Skywalker, exploring Ben Solo’s return to the living, one of the most fan-requested follow-ups to the sequel trilogy. As I said in my review of TRoS,
“Forcing [Ben Solo] to confront the galaxy after his actions and try to atone for his sins could’ve bore bountiful story fruit, whereas having him die ties up his story a bit too neatly for what was shaping up to be the Saga’s best, most nuanced villain.”
The idea we were on the edge of actually having this come true, where Adam Driver took it upon himself to get the idea together, bringing in a big name director like Steven Soderbergh, it got a full script, and was set for production, yet ultimately killed by Disney (the first greenlit Lucasfilm project to suffer such a fate), is a knife in the heart to fans. The fact it was clearly only killed by Disney because Alan Bergman, the Co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment, was more worried about his and Bob Iger’s, the current CEO, plans for him to succeed Bob, twists the knife even further. Sure we don’t know if the movie would’ve been any good, but if Lucasfilm had its full support behind it and Adam Driver was rearing to go, I don’t have any doubts it was going to be fine film.
Could The Hunt for Ben Solo ever survive or be resuscitated, much like it planned to do for Ben? It’s not very likely at this moment, hence why Driver could even speak about it so publicly, but could it be part of the reason why Rey’s New Jedi Order film has been in flux? We obviously don’t know how THfBS would’ve ended or the ultimate intention of what Ben Solo’s return to the galaxy would mean, but if he would still be alive 15 or so years later, when the NJO film is set, this film not being made could’ve led to changes to their plans. However, it’s also possible THfBS’s events could still be considered canon by the Story Group, especially given how far along it was almost being made, and they could ensure any future stories would honor it, so they could’ve be writing the NJO film to accommodate the fact we aren’t getting to see that event but it’s still something that happened. Obaid-Chinoy seemed to wade into the discussion by posting what many have taken to be a reference to THfBS, and if it truly was, could be a sign the story will live on in their movie. It’s not like Driver said he’s never playing Ben Solo again, just the film he fought for was shot down, so he could always show up if the storyline is considered part of their post-TRoS story plans. Regardless, to get so far in the film process and be shot down could’ve also given Lucasfilm pause on moving forward with projects like Dawn of the Jedi and New Jedi Order, waiting to get them absolutely right. So I hope, as the dust settles, it means films like Rey’s New Jedi Order can get started, as while it’s hard to let this go (for now), it’s time for the franchise to keep moving, though getting Starfighter going is a sure sign that’s the plan.
The fallout from The Hunt for Ben Solo dying at the starting line has likely hurt Bergman’s chances at succession, as reports suggest Disney is considering a two person CEO team instead, and it feels like karmic justice it’s part of what’s doomed him, as he’s also the guy spewing corporate double-speak about cancelling The Acolyte when we know full well he did it because, once again, the minor yet loud backlash from the dark corners of fandom probably made him worried about his chances at succession. Great projects all dead because of a middle-aged white man’s desire for a heftier paycheck, which sounds more like a villainous character in a Disney movie than the next man to run the company. Hopefully the next potential CEO(s) see the rabid response to the news about the Ben Solo film, how could they not when someone flew a plane with a sign over Disney Studios, and decide to make dreams a reality, much like Disney used to.
Ryan is Mynock Manor’s Head Butler. You can follow him and the website on Bluesky and Instagram @mynockmanor.