Disney Nixed Ocean’s Eleven Director’s Adam Driver–Led, Empire Strikes Back–Style Star Wars Film

File this under the great almost: Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh quietly spent nearly two years building a post-Rise of Skywalker Star Wars movie about Kylo Ren trying to find his way back from the dark side. Lucasfilm dug it. Disney did not. The project died in the boardroom.

The movie that almost was

Driver told the Associated Press he had been open to returning to Star Wars since 2021, after Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy reached out. The idea he and Soderbergh chased was called 'The Hunt for Ben Solo' — a smaller, character-first story that would pick up after The Rise of Skywalker and follow Ben Solo on a redemption path. Think fewer fireworks, more soul-searching.

Soderbergh, yes, the Ocean's 11 director, developed the script with writers Rebecca Blunt and Scott Z. Burns. According to Driver, when they took it into Lucasfilm, the reaction was enthusiastic; the company understood the angle and why it wasn’t just another lightsaber-and-Explodey Things sequel. Then they walked it over to Disney.

Where it hit the wall

Driver says Disney chiefs Bob Iger and Alan Bergman passed. Their hang-up: they didn’t buy that Ben Solo could still be alive after his death in The Rise of Skywalker, and they didn’t see a way to continue that story without breaking what the previous films set up. Cleaner to say no than to retcon a resurrection.

'We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that. It was one of the coolest [expletive] scripts I had ever been a part of.'

Driver also called Kylo Ren one of his favorite roles, which makes the shut-down sting a little more. Soderbergh, for his part, kept it wry:

'I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it.'

What they were going for

The touchstone was The Empire Strikes Back — not the Hoth battle fireworks, but the emotional spine: training, doubt, the messiness of identity, and a gut-punch reveal. Driver says the plan was a 'handmade' approach, economical by Star Wars standards, with the money pointed at actors and story instead of wall-to-wall CG spectacle. He also called Soderbergh one of his favorite directors and praised him as a guy who sticks to his principles and doesn’t compromise.

If Disney had said yes, this would have been a redemption drama about grief, guilt, forgiveness, and trying to rebuild after you’ve broken almost everything that matters. Not the usual pew-pew pace; more a slow, bruised march back to the light.

The quick version

• Project: 'The Hunt for Ben Solo' — a post-Rise of Skywalker story focused on Kylo Ren/Ben Solo seeking redemption.
• Team: Steven Soderbergh directing; script by Rebecca Blunt and Scott Z. Burns; Adam Driver set to return.
• Timeline: Driver had been open to coming back since 2021 after Kathleen Kennedy reached out; he and Soderbergh developed it for nearly two years.
• Lucasfilm’s take: Positive — they liked the concept and the character-driven approach.
• Disney’s decision: No — Bob Iger and Alan Bergman couldn’t reconcile Ben Solo being alive after his on-screen death, and didn’t see a clean way forward.
• Style aim: Smaller budget by Star Wars standards, 'handmade' feel, emotionally driven; inspired by what made The Empire Strikes Back resonate.

So... what now?

For now, 'The Hunt for Ben Solo' lives on the list of great what-ifs. If you want a palate cleanser, The Empire Strikes Back is currently streaming in the US on Disney+. Not the same thing, but it’s the blueprint these guys were chasing.