The movie fans will never see.
Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker (2019) may have soared past $1 billion at the global box office, but its reputation has been far less triumphant. For many viewers, it capped the sequel trilogy with a finale that felt uneven and, at times, rushed. In the years since, Lucasfilm has been steadily working to clarify unanswered narrative choices, using expanded lore and new content to address lingering questions surrounding J. J. Abrams’ finale.
Of course, the turmoil started earlier. Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII–The Last Jedi (2017) sharply divided fans, with some praising its risks and others urging Lucasfilm to reconsider its overarching direction. Rather than retool the trilogy, Disney tapped Abrams—fresh off Star Wars: Episode VII–The Force Awakens (2015)—to bring the story home.
The sequel trilogy introduced a new trio of leads—Daisy Ridley’s Rey, John Boyega’s Finn, and Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron—while building Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren into one of the era’s most debated characters. His story, involving internal conflict, the Knights of Ren, his Force Dyad with Rey, and his eventual end as Ben Solo, felt unfinished to many fans.
To help bridge those gaps, Lucasfilm has been revisiting key beats across different media, even revising elements such as Palpatine’s return through supplemental material. A recent comic re-creation of The Rise of Skywalker even shifted several details from the movie’s closing scenes.
Fresh stories continue to arrive, including a Kylo Ren adventure set between Episodes VIII and IX and Rey’s “Jaws of Jakku,” which also explores the post-Last Jedi period. But none of these projects compare to the massive undertaking Lucasfilm once considered: a full-length Ben Solo film set after Episode IX.
“I always was interested in doing another Star Wars,” Adam Driver told Associated Press. “I had been talking about doing another one since 2021. Kathleen (Kennedy) had reached out. I always said: With a great director and a great story, I’d be there in a second. I loved that character and loved playing him.”
According to Driver, he brought the idea to director Steven Soderbergh.
“Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt outlined a story that the group then pitched to Kennedy, Lucasfilm vice president Cary Beck, and Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni,” the outlet wrote. “They were interested, so the filmmakers then pulled in Scott Z. Burns to write a script.”
Driver was enthusiastic about the finished draft, calling it “one of the [coolest] scripts” he had seen. But Disney ultimately passed.
“We presented the script to Lucasfilm. They loved the idea. They totally understood our angle and why we were doing it,” Driver said. “We took it to Bob Iger ([Disney CEO]) and Alan Bergman ([co-Chairman of Disney Entertainment]), and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that.”
The film’s proposed title, The Hunt for Ben Solo, suggests Lucasfilm was prepared to take a bold swing at extending the sequel-era lore. Given the polarized reaction to Episodes VII–IX, however, it’s understandable why Disney might hesitate to revisit that timeline right now.
As fan petitions pushed for the movie’s revival, Daisy Ridley finally weighed in, admitting she didn’t expect the groundswell of support.
“I knew a piece of it. I heard rumblings. I have lots of friends who are crew, so things always travel like that,” Ridley, who will next star in January’s We Bury the Dead (2026), told IGN. “But, whoa! When the story came out, no, I was like, ‘Oh, my God!’ And it was him that said it, right? It was funny because, like, ‘Oh, wow, Adam is saying it,’ and that’s the big surprise of the year.”
Ridley—who is still attached to lead her own post-sequel movie unless plans have shifted—spoke about the unexpected wave of enthusiasm for The Hunt for Ben Solo.
“I do love when there is a collective of positivity. The way the internet seems to have rallied to try and get it to happen. I think it’s fantastic for us all. It’s good for us to all be united about something in a really positive way,” she said. “Obviously, everyone knows he was a very popular character, but it was also lovely to think, ‘Wow, people really, really care and want this.’ I just… I like it. I like when people join forces–excuse the pun–from all around the world, all different sorts of people.”
While a Kylo Ren-centered film isn’t happening anytime soon, the franchise isn’t staying dormant. Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter (2027) will be the first return to the post-Episode IX period in nearly a decade. Leading up to it, Lucasfilm’s focus remains on the New Republic timeline, culminating next May with Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026).
The future of sequel-era storytelling remains uncertain. In 2023, Kathleen Kennedy announced three new films, including one centered on Rey Skywalker’s “New Jedi Order.” But with reports indicating delays and Starfighter shifting ahead, fans are left wondering whether Rey’s story is still a top priority.
As Lucasfilm recalibrates its theatrical and streaming strategy—with fewer shows, The Mandalorian reportedly ending next May, and Starfighter expected to stand alone—the direction of Star Wars is shifting once again. Whether audiences follow this new trajectory is still unclear.
How do you feel about Disney canceling this Kylo Ren movie? Let us know in the comments down below!
