Star Wars’ sequel trilogy is divisive, to say the least. It had terrific bones through Episode 7, Star Wars: The Power Awakens, and brand-new characters Poe Dameron, Finn, Rey, and Kylo Ren, however inconsistent character developments and a usually unappealing throughline, or lack of a correct throughline in any respect, had been arguably accountable for a way lackluster it’s as an entire. That doesn’t imply it was all unhealthy, although, and one diamond within the tough was Star Wars’ Kylo Ren.
Kylo Ren had a number of ‘will he, gained’t he’ moments all through Star Wars’ sequel trilogy, and that momentum carried him all the best way towards a climactic ending in Episode 9, The Rise of Skywalker, the place he lastly turned away from the darkish aspect, embraced his identification as Ben Solo, and died through self-sacrifice to save lots of Rey on Exegol. If there was ever going to be a approach to salvage what little good is within the sequel trilogy, it will certainly be by reviving each Ben and Star Wars’ canceled Hunt for Ben Solo film.
Kylo Ren’s Solo Film is Canceled… for Good?
A Star Wars film known as The Hunt for Ben Solo was reportedly in growth that might have adopted The Rise of Skywalker and had Ben come again from the useless in some way. Frankly, regardless of how this is able to’ve been excused or defined, it looks as if it will be the course correction that occasions of Star Wars’ sequel trilogy demand.
Ben Solo’s character growth was minimize quick, and that may’ve been all effectively and good if not for Rey supposedly enjoying a big function in Star Wars’ upcoming period. If true, it will make all of the sense on the planet to have Adam Driver reprise Ben alongside Daisy Ridley’s Rey, even when doing so would look like nothing however a shameless act of fan service.
In addition to being fan service, it will even be a possibility for Ben’s character to be fleshed out extra meaningfully, maybe with him truly in a position to grieve following the demise of his dad and mom (one in all whom he murdered) and his Jedi Grasp. Nonetheless, having this self-reflection depicted in a standalone film might enable it to be succinct, with out the film having to juggle a bunch of different characters who’re equally iconic or necessary.
Star Wars Can’t Ignore Its Sequel Trilogy
There’s a low chance that each one of Star Wars’ sequel trilogy characters return sooner or later. Nonetheless, they’ve all turn out to be legacy characters themselves, and Rey showing in an upcoming film or trilogy cements the truth that anybody else might have a starring, supporting, or cameo function, too. Ben deserves greater than a supporting or cameo function, although, and it may very well be powerful for a film that he and Rey share the display in to offer Ben as a lot time as he must discover who he’s now in Star Wars’ up to date period with nuance.
Rey really is the important thing to all this, because it doesn’t make a lot sense why Ben couldn’t have a film to himself if that very same privilege was afforded to a legacy character like Rey, who now goes by the identify Rey Skywalker and wields a lightsaber with a yellow-colored blade. If the concept was to distance the franchise from the sequel trilogy after how poorly it was acquired altogether, bringing Rey again as a legacy character mascot defeats that goal.
Ben Solo is a Nice New Legacy Character
Taika Waititi’s upcoming Star Wars film and Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter have phenomenal potential. They’ve each been described as making an attempt to recapture the unique trilogy’s bottled lightning, and it’ll be fascinating if both of those Star Wars tasks has any impact on what route the franchise takes sooner or later.
So, with so many tasks within the works already, The Hunt for Ben Solo could stay shelved indefinitely. On this case, it’s onerous to guess whether or not Ben could be introduced again in any respect.
A standalone film might completely and confidently justify how Ben has come again to life, whereas this occurring in the course of one other character’s Star Wars film might muddy it and divert all consideration towards Ben, anyway. The Hunt for Ben Solo could be nice for myriad causes. And, in giving Ben correct character growth, particularly past the maligned sequel trilogy’s episodes 7, 8, and 9, Star Wars might enter into a brand new period of redemption.
Ben redeemed himself by sacrificing himself, however a film that displays on his actions in The Power Awakens, The Final Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker may very well be Star Wars’ manner of reflecting on the sequel trilogy and inspecting the larger image. Right here, the franchise might transfer on from the sequel trilogy with grace, whereas possibly holding onto its finest legacy characters and story beats to propel it ahead, as that canon is clearly nonetheless intact and might’t be ignored by something that succeeds it in Star Wars’ multigenerational timeline.
- Forged
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Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Pal, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Present(s)
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The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The E-book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Dangerous Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Younger Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Film(s)
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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Assault of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Again, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Power Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Final Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Daybreak of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand Admiral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren