Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni put a definitive stamp on months of fan speculation during the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23 2026, confirming that the studio is not moving forward with The Hunt for Ben Solo at this time. The scrapped film, which would have seen Adam Driver reprise his role as Kylo Ren under the direction of Steven Soderbergh, has been the subject of intense fan campaigning since Driver revealed its existence last October. For followers of the sequel trilogy who felt Kylo Ren's arc ended on a sour note in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Filoni's clarification arrives as a disappointment — but hardly a surprise given the project's troubled history.
The confirmation came when Variety pressed Filoni about the project during the D23 2026 festivities. Filoni acknowledged he had been expecting the question, responding with a smile: "You know, someone was going to ask me that in this line. I'm surprised it took this long, so that's really cool." He then delivered the news directly: "We're not making that picture right now. That's all I can say." His comments to Deadline struck a similar tone, invoking Jedi mind-trick imagery: "It's not here, you won't find it here. The force is not with us in that regard; I love the love you feel for it." The phrasing leaves a narrow door ajar for the future while making the present reality clear.
Filoni Squelches Ben Solo Hopes at D23
Filoni's remarks at D23 2026 represent the most direct official statement yet on The Hunt for Ben Solo, a project that has lingered in fan discourse since Adam Driver disclosed its development in October 2025. Driver revealed that he and Soderbergh had spent two years working on the film before Disney pulled the plug. The movie would have explored Ben Solo's story after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, potentially addressing narrative threads many viewers felt were left unresolved. Former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy reportedly described the script as "great," yet the project was set aside regardless. With Filoni now leading Lucasfilm, his confirmation that the film is not in active development carries significant weight for the franchise's immediate roadmap.
Filoni Finally Spills on Ben Solo
- Project: The Hunt for Ben Solo — a scrapped Star Wars film centered on Kylo Ren / Ben Solo
- Key talent attached: Adam Driver (star), Steven Soderbergh (director), Rebecca Blunt (screenwriter)
- Development timeline: Approximately two years of work before Disney halted the project
- Official status: Not in active development as of D23 2026, per Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni
- Fan response: Months of campaigning including a "Save The Hunt for Ben Solo" banner flown over Walt Disney Studios
Why Disney Killed Ben Solo’s Movie
The Hunt for Ben Solo has become a flashpoint for a segment of the Star Wars fanbase dissatisfied with how the sequel trilogy concluded. Kylo Ren's redemption and death in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker left some viewers wanting more exploration of Ben Solo's life beyond the mask, and Driver's revelation that a concrete project existed — with a completed script and significant creative investment — only intensified that desire. Soderbergh himself called the decision to scrap the film "insane," noting that Disney received "two and a half years of free work" from him, Driver, and Blunt. When asked in April about the possibility of revival, Soderbergh was blunt: "nope. If it was gonna happen, it would have happened. It's that simple." His pessimism aligns with Filoni's current stance, suggesting the creative principals have moved on.
Meanwhile, the Star Wars franchise continues expanding elsewhere. The Mandalorian and Grogu premiered in May 2026, and Ahsoka Season 2 has a confirmed January 2027 release date on Disney+. D23 2026 also brought a first look at Star Wars: Starfighter, slated for 2027. These projects signal where Lucasfilm's resources are currently directed — toward streaming series and new theatrical ventures rather than revisiting the sequel trilogy's central antagonist. For fans holding out hope, Filoni's acknowledgment of their passion ("I love the love you feel for it") may be the only victory on offer for now.
Key Takeaways
- Dave Filoni confirmed at D23 2026 that Disney is not making The Hunt for Ben Solo right now
- The project had Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh attached for roughly two years before being shelved
- Steven Soderbergh previously stated revival is unlikely: "If it was gonna happen, it would have happened"
- Lucasfilm's active slate includes Ahsoka Season 2 (January 2027) and Star Wars: Starfighter (2027)
Filoni's tenure as Lucasfilm president is still young, and the studio has a history of revisiting shelved concepts when the timing aligns — witness the various Obi-Wan Kenobi iterations that eventually became a Disney+ series. But for now, the force is not with The Hunt for Ben Solo. The franchise's immediate future lives on Disney+ and in new theatrical bets like Star Wars: Starfighter, while Ben Solo's post-Rise of Skywalker journey remains confined to the imagination of the creatives who built it. Whether that changes down the road depends on factors no D23 showcase can predict: shifting leadership priorities, actor availability, and whether the fan demand Filoni acknowledged translates into a business case Disney cannot ignore.
