Star Wars fans are convinced Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren, also known as Ben Solo, is returning (Image: Lucasfilm/Bad Robot/Walt Disney Studios/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)
Star Wars fans are convinced a shelved sequel featuring the return of Adam Driver’s Ben Solo is back in production after the actor cropped up in a promotional video for a completely different franchise. It emerged last year that Driver and director Steven Soderbergh had spent two years developing a new addition to the beloved sci-fi saga, entitled The Hunt for Ben Solo – only for Disney, which owns of Star Wars, to axe the project.
Driver was last seen in a galaxy far, far away in 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which concluded with his character, Kylo Ren, turning away from the Dark Side and reclaiming his true identity as Ben Solo, before apparently giving his life to rescue Rey, portrayed by Daisy Ridley. Although the film was marketed as the concluding chapter in the nine-part saga that began in 1977, Driver and Soderbergh’s proposed follow-up would have shed light on the true fate of the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia. While Star Wars production company Lucasfilm was reportedly supportive of the plans, Soderbergh revealed that bosses at Disney “didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive”.
Yet fans are now firmly persuaded that the film could yet become a reality, pointing to clues hidden within a casting announcement for an entirely separate franchise.
At the D23 fan event over the weekend, Disney unveiled the cast for Marvel’s highly anticipated new X-Men film, scheduled for release in May 2028 – with Driver taking on the role of villain Mr Sinister. Fans are now convinced that a pre-recorded video in which Driver announced his casting contained subtle hints that The Hunt for Ben Solo is quietly in production, reports the Daily Star.
In the video, Driver disclosed he was on “a very lonely soundstage” at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire – the very location where all three Star Wars films featuring him were shot. Fans on Twitter erupted with speculation, with one posting: “Adam announcing on this set is practically performing a manifestation ritual for Ben Solo’s return at Pinewood.”
Another posted: “I’m actually spiralling a little bit why the f*** is he at Pinewood. If I don’t get an actual explanation I’m just gonna have to assume it’s for the exact reason I want him to be there.”
A further social media user commented: “Disney WANTED people to clock that Adam’s video was shot at Pinewood Studios. He had no reason to be there for an MCU (Marvel) movie that doesn’t start shooting before next year. He’s there for something else. And we know what that something else is. This was a very well planted Easter Egg.”
While someone else remarked: “I can’t figure it out either. Like why are you there sir? What are you doing? That’s a long a** way to fly for a gag. Unless this is on purpose?”
Holy cow. They are doing it. Look how coy he’s being, and then he does the JEDI MIND TRICK gesture while saying they’re “not making it RIGHT NOW.”
I GUARANTEE Feigi helped sway Disney to let Adam make #TheHuntForBenSolo or something equivalent to it. Had to be part of the deal,… https://t.co/68QFwwqdIF
— Jon Handy Dandy (@JonHandyDandy) August 15, 2026
The fact that Disney owns both Star Wars and Marvel has led many to speculate that this was intended as a cheeky piece of cross-promotion. Some have even suggested that Driver only agreed to join the X-Men film on the condition that The Hunt for Ben Solo is greenlit.
Speculation was further fuelled by another clip from D23, in which Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni responded to a question about whether the shelved film could be revived, insisting: “We’re not making that picture right now”. However, eagle-eyed fans noted that the clip captured him making a distinctive two-fingered hand gesture – strikingly reminiscent of the Jedi Mind Trick from the films.
Speaking last year, Driver confirmed he was “always interested” in returning to the Star Wars universe. “I loved that character and loved playing him,” he added.
Earlier this year, however, Soderbergh, who won an Academy Award for 2001’s Traffic, poured cold water on any hopes of resurrecting the project. “At a certain point, it’s like complaining about the weather,” he said. “You just gotta keep moving. If it was gonna happen, it would have happened.”
Star Wars most recently graced cinema screens in May with the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu. Next year will bring Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Deadpool and Wolverine’s Shawn Levy.
