Sorry Adam Driver, But ‘Star Wars’ Is Better Off Without Resurrecting Ben Solo

To kick this off, I’ll admit that I’m a giant fan of Adam Driver. I agree that Kylo Ren was underutilized within the “Star Wars” sequel trilogy, and the redeemed Ben Solo much more so. Though the “Legacy of Vader” comics and novelizations have been working to flesh out the one son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, it doesn’t erase the truth that Disney has successfully killed off the Skywalker bloodline after Ben makes use of his life power to resurrect Rey (Daisy Ridley). Maybe they took the “let the previous die, kill it if you must” line a bit too far to be able to transfer on from the Skywalker Saga, however resurrecting Ben Solo after his physique vanished and have become one with the Drive could be a mistake. That’s to not say that Ben Solo can’t seem in different methods, however bringing Ben again to life would possibly do extra hurt to the franchise than the choice to create a trilogy with no strong plan within the first place.

“The Rise of Skywalker” got here out in 2019, so it doesn’t seem to be an excessive amount of of a spoiler to say that Ben Solo dies after combating Emperor Palpatine. The film dissatisfied so many who there hasn’t been a “Star Wars” film in theaters since, and controversial Disney+ collection like “The Acolyte” have solely prompted followers to insist that Disney has no concept what to do with the franchise they purchased from George Lucas again in 2012.

Earlier this week, the “Marriage Story” actor set the Web on hearth when he instructed theAssociated Pressthat he “all the time was fascinated about doing one other” movie in a galaxy far, distant. “I had been speaking about doing one other one since 2021,” he revealed. “Kathleen (Kennedy) had reached out. I all the time stated: With an awesome director and an awesome story, I’d be there in a second. I liked that character and liked taking part in him.”

He and director Steven Soderbergh then spent two years engaged on a film that may have introduced Ben Solo again to life. Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt labored with author Scott Z. Burns to create a script after they obtained the approval from Kennedy, Lucasfilm vp Cary Beck, and Lucasfilm chief inventive officer Dave Filoni. Driver referred to as it “one of many coolest (expletive) scripts I had ever been part of.”

“We offered the script to Lucasfilm. They liked the concept. They completely understood our angle and why we have been doing it,” Driver stated. “We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, and so they stated no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that.”

He continued, “It was referred to as ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’ and it was actually cool,” including, “However it’s no extra, so I can lastly speak about it.” Soderbergh gave the publication his personal assertion, including, “I actually loved making the film in my head. I’m simply sorry the followers gained’t get to see it.”

Though Driver indicated that the undertaking was useless within the water, followers instantly began creating petitions left and proper, demanding {that a} Ben Solo be made. Though Lucasfilm has already greenlit a film for Rey, it seems that followers are extra fascinated about seeing Driver again on display.

Many have already identified that there are numerous, some ways to convey somebody again to life within the “Star Wars” universe, because it has already been achieved with Darth Maul, Asajj Ventress, and Emperor Palpatine (though the “by some means Palpatine returned” line has been mocked for thus lengthy, it is smart that Iger would possibly get chilly toes about resurrecting yet one more character).

Right here’s the factor, although. Ben Solo died and pale into the residing Drive. Whereas Disney may most likely use some Drive dyad handwaving to elucidate how he returns, what could be the purpose? Many followers have expressed hope that Ben Solo could be wandering by means of the galaxy, correcting injustice the place he noticed it, as an try and make reparations.

However there’s an issue with that. If the New Republic obtained wind that Ben Solo was alive, wouldn’t they wish to seize him? Possibly that’s the place the “hunt” a part of the title got here from, nevertheless it’s essential to do not forget that Kylo Ren was complicit within the destruction of the Hosnian System. With Captain Phasma, Basic Hux, and Supreme Chief Snoke gone, there is no such thing as a one else to take accountability for the billions of lives misplaced.

The comics go into extra element concerning the devastation that Kylo Ren precipitated on Naboo and Coruscant that don’t should be proven within the films (it’s a conflict, numerous civilians die, we get it), however the New Republic (if there’s something even left of it at this level) goes to need a very public trial to indicate that the specter of the First Order is basically gone. With everybody else useless, Kylo Ren is the one individual they’ve left.

At that time, after a public trial, there are just a few choices: incarceration, execution, or rehabilitation. Given the quantity of energy that Ben Solo possesses and the character of the crimes that he has dedicated, it’s uncertain that anybody could be in favor of rehabilitation (in addition to the viewers). Rey would possibly advocate for him, however in the long term, nobody actually is aware of who she is, and her phrase won’t depend for a lot.

As an alternative, there’s a technique to convey Ben Solo again: as a Drive ghost. He already died. There is no such thing as a magic hand-waving required right here. The viewers already noticed him fade into the residing Drive. He didn’t seem with Luke and Leia on Tatooine, nevertheless it wouldn’t be shocking to see him make an look when Rey decides to start out up her personal Jedi college, as many have anticipated.

If something, a Ben Solo film may bridge the hole between “Starfighter” and Rey’s Jedi film, exhibiting Ben Solo make a journey by means of the residing Drive in his quest to grow to be a Drive ghost. Thus far, it’s unclear how precisely Jedi transfer on and grow to be one with the Drive. This film may assist bridge the hole, broaden the lore of the Drive, and proceed to flesh out Ben Solo’s journey of redemption.

If Adam Driver needs to return to a galaxy far, distant, it’s clear that many followers will welcome him with open arms, however Disney must be cautious with how they deal with the character. In the event that they resurrect Ben Solo for one film, it implies that he now exists within the timeline but once more, and it leaves the query of what’s going to occur to the character from there.

Possibly it’s sufficient for some followers to say that he’s simply wandering across the galaxy, ready to pop up once more if there’s bother like an Avenger, however there needs to be some form of endgame for the character. Will he quiet down with Rey and begin a household to maintain the Skywalker bloodline going?

I can’t think about that Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), who was tortured by Kylo Ren in “The Drive Awakens,” or Finn (John Boyega), who most likely noticed Kylo Ren do lots worse issues than the film confirmed as a Stormtrooper, would ever be okay with that.

AsThe Blast beforehand reported in Might 2025, Boyega was requested by a fan if Finn would have accepted a relationship between Rey and Ben if he had lived. The “Assault the Block” actor instantly responded with a transparent, “No.”

“I imply, look, women within the room — straight women within the room — when he’s pursuing you, him making an attempt to kill you isn’t part of the romance, okay,” Boyega defined. “Chasing him and saying, ‘We will grow to be one thing highly effective!’ I am there like, ‘I would not inform my sisters to do this.'”

If Ben had survived the occasions of “The Rise of Skywalker,” Boyega stated that Finn would have inspired Rey to keep away from Ben, redeemed or not. In his phrases: “If I have been Finn there, Finn ought to’ve had a line the place he’d say, ‘Woman, go away him be. Come residence with me.'”

Though Adam Driver feels that Ben Solo’s story was left incomplete, there’s one other character who was gravely underutilized all through the sequel trilogy. John Boyega’s Finn had an awesome run in “The Drive Awakens,” however appeared to get much less and fewer display time with every film. In “The Rise of Skywalker,” Finn saved operating round with a secret that he wished to inform Rey.