Adam Driver Confirms End of Potential Kylo Ren Project

Actor Adam Driver has officially closed the door on the possibility of returning to the Star Wars franchise as the character Kylo Ren. During a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Driver addressed long-standing rumors regarding a potential standalone film titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, confirming that the project will not move forward.

Driver revealed that he and director Steven Soderbergh had spent approximately two years developing the concept. The creative team, which also included screenwriters Scott Z. Burns and Jules Asner, worked diligently to craft a script that they believed would effectively continue the character's story following the events of The Rise of Skywalker. According to Driver, the project was presented to Lucasfilm, which expressed interest in the idea.

However, the proposal ultimately stalled when it reached higher-level Disney executives, including Bob Iger and Alan Bergman. Driver explained that the studio rejected the pitch based on the narrative conclusion of the character in the most recent trilogy. "We tried to do one more, yeah, but they were like, 'No, he's dead,'" the actor stated during the interview, noting that the studio did not see a path for Ben Solo to remain alive within the established canon.

Despite the disappointment of the project being shelved, Driver expressed his gratitude for the intense fan support that emerged once news of the film's development became public. Fans organized various campaigns to advocate for the movie, including the deployment of billboards and the hiring of planes to fly banners over Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Driver described the response as "pretty incredible" and noted that he had not anticipated such a significant public reaction.

When asked if there remained any possibility for the project to be resurrected, Driver remained skeptical. While he acknowledged that the studio theoretically holds the power to change its mind, he emphasized that he considers the opportunity to have passed. "If they wanted to, fine. But I think the ship has sailed," he remarked, signaling that he has moved on from the role.

The Star Wars franchise is currently looking toward its next major theatrical release, which is scheduled for May 28, 2027. The upcoming film, titled Star Wars: Starfighter, is set to be directed by Shawn Levy and will feature Ryan Gosling in a lead role. As for Driver, he continues to promote his other professional endeavors, including his recent work on the film Paper Tiger.