Key Highlights
- The Walt Disney Company squashed the idea of a spinoff movie centered on Ben Solo in late 2019.
- Fans are protesting through various means, including banners flown over Disney’s headquarters and missing persons posters.
- Actor Adam Driver revealed that Steven Soderbergh and Scott Z. Burns wrote the script for the proposed movie.
- The idea of resurrecting Ben Solo was rejected due to his death in “The Rise of Skywalker.”
Fan Activism Grows Amid Disney’s Rejection
Weeks after The Walt Disney Company officially scrapped the plans for a Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker spinoff movie, centered around Ben Solo, now known as Kylo Ren, fans are taking to unconventional methods to keep the project alive. This move by Disney, led by Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, who turned down the script from acclaimed filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, has ignited a new wave of activism within the Star Wars community.
Visible Protests: Flyers and Airborne Campaigns
The latest form of protest came in the form of flyers, reminiscent of missing persons posters. These were distributed across Los Angeles’ mid-Wilshire area on lampposts and street signs, featuring a photograph of Adam Driver as Ben Solo/Kylo Ren. The flyers include detailed information about where he was last seen—five years and ten months ago, marking the release date of “The Rise of Skywalker” in December 2019.
Another significant act of resistance saw a plane fly over Disney’s Burbank-based headquarters with the banner “Shareholders Want The Hunt for Ben Solo.” This event occurred mere hours after Disney had its earnings call, making it clear that the company was not immune to public pressure and fan sentiment.
A Behind-the-Scenes Story
According to Driver himself, in an October 2019 interview with the Associated Press, he and Steven Soderbergh developed a script for this potential movie. The proposal even received approval from Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy before being vetoed by Disney executives.
“We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman and they said no,” Driver stated during his interview, adding that the executives did not see how Ben Solo could be alive in “The Rise of Skywalker.”
The Rejection: A Complex Decision
While the idea may have seemed promising on paper, Disney’s decision to reject it is rooted in a complex narrative about continuity and fan expectations. The death of Ben Solo at the end of “The Rise of Skywalker” serves as a significant moment that fans have come to accept. Resurrecting him for a spinoff would challenge this established storyline and potentially disrupt the emotional journey of his character.
However, this does not deter the passionate Star Wars fanbase, who continue to rally behind the idea of seeing more of Ben Solo’s story unfold on screen.
Their persistent efforts highlight the power of fan engagement in shaping the future of beloved franchises like Star Wars.
The ongoing saga of “The Hunt for Ben Solo” serves as a reminder that even after theatrical releases, the journey is far from over for dedicated fans and filmmakers alike. As the franchise continues to evolve with upcoming projects such as The Mandalorian and Grogu, the fate of Ben Solo remains uncertain, leaving fans hopeful that his story might yet find a new beginning.
