It is official: Disney retains canceling the flawed Star Wars motion pictures. Whereas it could be good to say that Adam Driver’s rejected Ben Solo spin-off was an anomaly, it’s, sadly, simply the most recent in a disappointing sample.
Remarkably, there hasn’t been a brand new Star Wars film since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Whereas the drought is lastly set to finish subsequent yr with The Mandalorian and Grogu, there have truly been a number of motion pictures in growth which have both been canceled outright or “paused indefinitely”.
Following the current information about Adam Driver’s just lately rejected pitch, let’s discover Disney and Lucasfilm’s troubled historical past with Star Wars motion pictures over the past half-decade.
Disney Canceled Adam Driver’s Ben Solo Undertaking (And The Web Is Shedding It)
Lately, Adam Driver revealed that he and director Steven Soderbergh (Ocean’s Eleven, Erin Brokovich, Logan Fortunate) developed a spin-off to Star Wars’ sequel trilogy known as The Hunt for Ben Solo, alongside scriptwriter Scott Z. Burns (The Bourne Ultimatum, Contagion).
Set after the occasions of The Rise of Skywalker, the movie would have delved additional into Ben Solo’s redemption, exploring components Driver felt have been left unresolved within the sequels. Developed over two years, this totally accomplished script was additionally executed with the total assist of Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy and David Filoni.
Nonetheless, Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman have been unable to reconcile how Ben Solo may nonetheless be alive after giving his life to avoid wasting Rey’s on the finish of The Rise of Skywalker (which is totally weird contemplating the franchise’s confirmed historical past of bringing again characters like Palpatine, Boba Fett, and Darth Maul).
Because of this, the venture that had already seen a 3 million greenback funding was killed regardless of its momentum…and the Web has since exploded.
Unsurprisingly, Star Wars followers have erupted since Adam Driver revealed The Hunt for Ben Solo and its destiny. Social media has seen an endless stream of pissed off posts lamenting that the sequel period’s most compelling character will not be getting his personal chapter.
Likewise, there’s been uncommon unity among the many Star Wars fandom calling for the choice to be reversed, and even planes flying over Disney Studios with banners studying “Save #TheHuntForBenSolo”.
Assuming engagement and assist from followers stays robust, the hope could be that we’d have a Deadpool, Ugly Sonic, Snyder Lower, Coyote vs ACME scenario on our palms. Regardless, the larger concern worthy of debate is that that is one more thrilling pitch for a Star Wars film that has in the end been canceled.
There’s Been A number of Canceled/Paused Star Wars Initiatives Since Rise of Skywalker
Since 2019, Lucasfilm has been struggling to get any Star Wars movie to the end line. On the identical time, there have been loads of bulletins of initiatives in manufacturing, just for those self same initiatives to ultimately get canceled, faraway from Disney’s launch schedule, or have their growth paused.
Essentially the most notable unseen Star Wars initiatives embrace:
Rogue Squadron – An X-Wing Prime Gun-inspired moive from director Patty Jenkins. Following a number of delays after it was first introduced in 2020, Disney formally pulled it from the discharge calendar by 2023. Nonetheless, Jenkins revealed in 2024 she was nonetheless engaged on a Rogue Squadron script for Lucasfilm.
Kevin Feige’s Star Wars Movie – This untitled film from the President of Marvel Leisure fell by means of in early 2023. Whereas the concept generated some stable hype and pleasure, the venture was in the end shelved.
Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Film – Which technically nonetheless “in growth” in line with the latest replace, there’s reportedly been little or no progress.
Rian Johnson’s Trilogy – Introduced in 2017 after Johnson’s The Final Jedi, Johnson’s new trilogy stays indefinitely paused. Nonetheless, it has been eight years, and Lucasfilm and Disney’s priorites appear to have shifted fairly a bit since.
Damon Lindelof’s Untitled Movie – Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is reportedly steering a reworked model of a New Jedi Order film starring Daisy Ridley’s Rey, although the unique idea from Damon Lindelof was reportedly rejected together with Lindelof himself who’s now not engaged on any Star Wars initiatives.
Donald Glover’s Lando Film – What was initially introduced in 2020 as an upcoming Disney+ collection is now being reworked as a full function Star Wars movie. Nonetheless, manufacturing has but to start, leaving Lando’s destiny unsure.
It is solely just lately that Lucasfilm and Disney lastly have tangible initiatives in manufacturing and able to launch within the subsequent couple of years, together with 2026’s The Mandalorian and Grogu and director Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter in 2027, which shall be set 5 years after the sequels starring Ryan Gosling because the lead.
What Is Going On With Disney’s Star Wars Choices?
So many of those canceled/shelved Star Wars initiatives arguably sound extra creatively thrilling than The Mandalorian and Grogu. Whereas the 2026 film does appear like it is going to be enjoyable, it is pretty apparent Disney goes with The Mandalorian & Grogu as Star Wars’ large return theaters as it is the most secure possibility with the least quantity of threat.
In any case, the film is basically taking the place of a fourth season of Lucasfilm’s greatest live-action collection, centered round two established and beloved characters.
For the reason that sequels, it appears as if the rule of thumb has been warning above all, with much less curiosity in taking greater dangers creatively. To be honest, among the aforementioned initiatives have been canceled or shelved because of circumstances outdoors of Disney or Lucasfilm’s management (although most of them have been).
2027’s Starfighter looks as if it is going to be the primary actual large Star Wars swing in fairly a while, although the priority is that Disney will proceed to play it secure if the film does not find yourself doing nicely.
Relying on the extent of continued engagement, there would possibly nonetheless be hope for The Hunt for Ben Solo. Within the meantime, it appears to be simply one other instance of Disney passing up among the most enjoyable ideas for future Star Wars motion pictures.
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Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise Of Skywalker
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