star wars

‘The Hunt for Ben Solo‘ Had a Greenlit Script Before ‍Lucasfilm Rejected It, Director Reveals

Los Angeles, CA -⁢ A⁢ planned Star Wars film centered on Kylo Ren, titled The ⁣Hunt for Ben Solo, reached the stage of a completed script ‍submission to Disney for approval before being ultimately rejected, according to director‍ Steven Soderbergh. The revelation, made public ‍this week, marks​ the first time Lucasfilm has reportedly turned down a fully finished film⁤ script for greenlighting.

The project, a collaboration between Soderbergh and actor‍ Adam Driver, explored the backstory⁢ of Ben Solo and his​ descent to the dark side. Driver⁢ publicly revealed the project on October 20, 2024, prompting a flurry of discussion among fans. ‌Soderbergh subsequently confirmed the project’s existence and the fact that he had previously concealed its advancement. ⁣In a series of messages⁣ on October 22, Soderbergh stated,⁤ “I⁤ did not enjoy lying about the existence of ⁤THE⁣ HUNT FOR BEN SOLO, but it‌ really did need to remain a secret…until now!”

This news​ is significant as it challenges the conventional understanding of Lucasfilm’s development process under Disney.⁣ Previously, projects were often reported as stalling during earlier stages of development. The confirmation that a completed​ script was submitted and rejected suggests a ​more decisive rejection of the creative direction proposed for The Hunt for Ben Solo. ⁤Both Soderbergh and Driver now believe the project is permanently shelved⁣ and are no longer bound by any​ non-disclosure agreements.

Further reporting indicates that a separate Star ‌Wars ‌ project pitched by director David Fincher, set between the Last Jedi and The Rise of ⁤Skywalker, never progressed beyond‍ initial concepts and conversations with Lucasfilm. This differs from earlier reports ​suggesting the Fincher project stalled over creative disagreements regarding the final cut.