Steven Soderbergh Is Still Disappointed That ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’ Didn’t Happen
Summary
The Oscar-winning director known for 'Ocean's Eleven' and 'Traffic' expressed confidence that a 'Star Wars' film would materialize. This revelation highlights the intriguing behind-the-scenes dynamics of blockbuster filmmaking and the director's aspirations within the iconic franchise.
Key Insights
What was 'The Hunt for Ben Solo' and why did Disney cancel it?
'The Hunt for Ben Solo' was a Star Wars spin-off film directed by Steven Soderbergh that would have featured Adam Driver reprising his role as Ben Solo (Kylo Ren). The project had a completed screenplay written by Scott Z. Burns and was in early pre-production stages. Disney CEO Bob Iger and Entertainment co-chair Alan Bergman canceled the film due to narrative continuity concerns—specifically, they questioned how Ben Solo could be alive after the events of 'The Rise of Skywalker.' This made it the first Lucasfilm project with a finished script to be rejected by Disney.
How much time and money did Steven Soderbergh invest in the project?
Steven Soderbergh spent approximately two and a half years developing the project without receiving any payment. While Soderbergh worked unpaid, screenwriter Scott Z. Burns was compensated $3 million to finalize the script—reportedly more than any writer in Lucasfilm history. Despite the significant time investment and the completion of a script that Lucasfilm executives, including then-president Kathleen Kennedy, were reportedly pleased with, the project was ultimately scrapped by Disney.