The hunt for Ben Solo: fans keep campaigning

The fan campaign for The Hunt For Ben Solo is still going strong. The latest action was a truck circling the launch of The Mandalorian and Grogu in Hollywood. The Star Wars superfans behind the campaign are trying to convince Disney to bring the scrapped film The Hunt For Ben Solo back to life, and over the past year they’ve launched several initiatives to draw attention to Adam Driver’s character Kylo Ren.

History of the campaign

In late 2022, Adam Driver revealed to the Associated Press that he had been working on The Hunt For Ben Solo for the past few years. The film, approved by Lucasfilm but ultimately scrapped by Bob Iger, would have taken place after the events of The Rise of Skywalker , with Driver’s character at the center. Steven Soderbergh was attached to direct the project.

Actions by the fan campaign

The campaign has carried out several creative actions, including hiring planes for flyovers of the Walt Disney Studio lot in Burbank. Daisy Ridley, known for her role as Rey Skywalker, has responded positively to the campaign’s support. In January 2023, billboards were used, and in March they had a presence at Toronto Comicon . A recent highlight was the mobile billboard truck at the premiere of The Mandalorian .

Reactions from those involved

Adam Driver has expressed his disappointment over the film’s cancellation and described the script as one of the best he has ever worked on. He had discussions with Lucasfilm about the project, but Bob Iger and co-chair Alan Bergman saw no way Ben Solo could still be alive. Soderbergh, who was set to direct the project, has said he’s disappointed that fans will never get to see the film.

Daisy Ridley previously voiced her admiration for the fanbase and the way it has rallied to make the film happen. She praised how people from all over the world have come together for the initiative. The positive energy behind the campaign continues to inspire many involved to keep going, even if the project still appears to be dead in the water for now.

Despite the setbacks, fans of The Hunt For Ben Solo remain hopeful and motivated. The campaign will continue its efforts to influence Disney and bring Ben Solo’s story to the big screen after all.