Star Wars fans are convinced that a shelved sequel featuring the return of Adam Driver's Ben Solo is back in production, after the actor appeared in a promotional video for a different franchise. The speculation follows Driver's casting announcement for Marvel's upcoming X-Men film.
Disney Axed the Sequel
Last year, it emerged that Driver and director Steven Soderbergh had spent two years developing a new Star Wars film titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, but Disney, which owns the franchise, axed the project. Driver last appeared as Kylo Ren in 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, where his character turned from the Dark Side and reclaimed his identity as Ben Solo before apparently sacrificing himself to save Rey, played by Daisy Ridley.
Although that film was marketed as the concluding chapter of the nine-part saga, the proposed follow-up would have explored the fate of Han Solo and Princess Leia's son. Lucasfilm reportedly supported the plans, but Soderbergh revealed that Disney executives "didn't see how Ben Solo was alive".
Pinewood Clues
At the D23 fan event over the weekend, Disney announced the cast for its new X-Men film, scheduled for May 2028, with Driver taking the role of villain Mr Sinister. Fans noticed that in a pre-recorded video, Driver said he was on "a very lonely soundstage" at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, where all three Star Wars films featuring him were shot.
Social media users speculated that this was a deliberate hint. One posted: "Adam announcing on this set is practically performing a manifestation ritual for Ben Solo's return at Pinewood." Another wrote: "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 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."
Jedi Mind Trick Gesture
Another clip from D23 showed Lucasfilm president Dave Filoni responding to a question about reviving the shelved film, insisting: "We're not making that picture right now." Fans noted that he made a two-fingered hand gesture reminiscent of the Jedi Mind Trick from the films.
Speaking last year, Driver confirmed he was "always interested" in returning to Star Wars, saying: "I loved that character and loved playing him." However, Soderbergh earlier this year dismissed hopes of a revival, saying: "At a certain point, it's like complaining about the weather. You just gotta keep moving. If it was gonna happen, it would have happened."
Star Wars' most recent cinema release was The Mandalorian and Grogu in May. Next year will bring Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy.
