Kylo Ren’s story appears to be unfinished — despite recent signals suggesting otherwise.
In recent months, Lucasfilm has sent mixed messages about the future of one of Star Wars’ most divisive characters. Reports of canceled projects, vague interviews, and renewed fan campaigns have kept Ben Solo in circulation, even as the studio avoided clear commitments.
That uncertainty arrives at a sensitive moment for the franchise. The sequel trilogy remains financially successful but creatively polarizing, and Lucasfilm’s handling of its legacy has become a key measure of its broader strategy going forward.
Just weeks after reports surfaced that Lucasfilm quietly shelved The Hunt for Ben Solo, new canon material suggested the door may not be fully closed. The indication did not come from an announcement or event, but from the final page of a Marvel comic.
The closing issue of Legacy of Vader, set between Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), ends on a note that feels unusually explicit for a franchise known for cautious messaging.
Written by Charles Soule with art by Luke Ross, Legacy of Vader #12 concludes inside Darth Vader’s castle on Mustafar. Kylo Ren confronts a Force vision of the life Ben Solo might have led, framed as a moment of reckoning rather than redemption.
Shortly afterward, Kylo is violently expelled from Vader’s hidden vault, appearing to fall toward Mustafar’s lava fields. The final page delivers a stark line: “The Reign Ends. The Fall Begins. Kylo Ren… Will Return.”
Its timing is notable given recent developments surrounding Kylo Ren and the uncertainty attached to his future beyond The Rise of Skywalker.
Signals From the Expanded Universe
On its own, the ending could be read as reinforcing Kylo Ren’s presence leading into The Rise of Skywalker. Marvel’s Star Wars comics have often used heightened language without signaling broader franchise plans.
However, the context has shifted. In late 2025, Adam Driver revealed that Disney had canceled The Hunt for Ben Solo, reportedly due to internal uncertainty over how the character survived the events of Episode IX.
The cancellation prompted a renewed fan response. Supporters organized online campaigns and even flew a banner over The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, urging Disney to reconsider the decision. The effort reflected sustained interest in the character.
Speculation has also centered on Daisy Ridley’s upcoming return as Rey in a film set roughly 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Some fans believe the story could be adjusted to incorporate Ben Solo through flashbacks, Force visions, or other narrative devices.
Ridley has addressed the topic cautiously. Asked about Rey and Ben Solo’s future on The Drew Barrymore Show, she responded with a brief “Mm-hmm,” a moment that quickly circulated online.
She later told The Hollywood Reporter that she had “heard things” regarding Ben Solo’s future, stopping short of confirming any involvement or plans. The ambiguity has only prolonged speculation.
The Hollywood Reporter has also noted that “a sequel-sequel trilogy feels inevitable,” citing the scale of fan engagement and the franchise’s commercial incentives. Within that framework, leaving Ben Solo unaddressed remains difficult.
Why Kylo Ren Still Matters
Kylo Ren remains one of the sequel trilogy’s most contested figures. Critics argue his arc — including patricide, mass violence, and a compressed redemption — weakened the trilogy’s moral clarity.
Supporters counter that the character represents unresolved trauma and moral ambiguity, offering a more psychologically complex figure than many past Star Wars antagonists.
Interest in the character has also extended beyond the screen. Reylo-adjacent novels such as The Love Hypothesis and The Hurricane Wars have found mainstream success, reinforcing the pairing’s cultural footprint.
That momentum has persisted regardless of Lucasfilm’s public stance. It has also complicated efforts to fully move on from the sequel era as the studio continues recalibrating its film slate.
With Legacy of Vader closing on a clear narrative signal, Lucasfilm appears to be acknowledging a lingering reality. Kylo Ren remains part of the conversation.
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