Star Wars Fans Drive Times Square Campaign to Revive Cancelled Ben Solo Film

Star Wars fans have launched a passionate campaign to revive the canceled film "The Hunt for Ben Solo," which would have followed the character Ben Solo after the events of "The Rise of Skywalker." The movie, described by Adam Driver as one of the coolest scripts he'd been part of, was directed by Steven Soderbergh with a screenplay by Scott Z. Burns, but was ultimately halted by Disney CEO Bob Iger, who reportedly could not reconcile how Ben Solo could be alive after his death in the previous film. Fans have responded with notable public displays, including flying a banner over Disney Studios in Burbank and purchasing a digital billboard in Times Square that reads, "For Adam. No one’s ever really gone. Hope lives. Ben is alive! #THBS." The campaign draws parallels to the successful fan movement that led to the release of the Snyder Cut of Justice League, emphasizing that if a character like Palpatine can be brought back with one line, Ben Solo's return could be similarly explained within Star Wars lore. The fan efforts underscore the strong desire for the story to continue and challenge the studio's decision, highlighting the influence of fan communities on corporate entertainment decisions. Both Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh have publicly acknowledged the project, with Soderbergh confirming the film's existence and Driver expressing his enthusiasm for the story and character.