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 need to” line a bit too far in an effort to transfer on from the Skywalker Saga, however resurrecting Ben Solo after his physique vanished and have become one with the Power can 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 stable plan within the first place.

“The Rise of Skywalker” got here out in 2019, so it doesn’t look like an excessive amount of of a spoiler to say that Ben Solo dies after preventing Emperor Palpatine. The film disillusioned so many who there hasn’t been a “Star Wars” film in theaters since, and controversial Disney+ sequence like “The Acolyte” have solely prompted followers to insist that Disney has no thought 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 advised theAssociated Pressthat he “at all times was inquisitive 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 at all times 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 might have introduced Ben Solo again to life. Soderbergh and Rebecca Blunt labored with author Scott Z. Burns to create a script after they bought the approval from Kennedy, Lucasfilm vp Cary Beck, and Lucasfilm chief artistic officer Dave Filoni. Driver known as it “one of many coolest (expletive) scripts I had ever been part of.”

“We introduced the script to Lucasfilm. They liked the thought. 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 known as ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’ and it was actually cool,” including, “However it’s no extra, so I can lastly discuss it.” Soderbergh gave the publication his personal assertion, including, “I actually loved making the film in my head. I’m simply sorry the followers received’t get to see it.”

Though Driver indicated that the venture was lifeless 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 inquisitive about seeing Driver again on display screen.

Many have already identified that there are various, some ways to carry somebody again to life within the “Star Wars” universe, because it has already been executed with Darth Maul, Asajj Ventress, and Emperor Palpatine (though the “in some way Palpatine returned” line has been mocked for therefore lengthy, it is sensible that Iger would possibly get chilly ft about resurrecting yet one more character).

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

However there’s an issue with that. If the New Republic bought wind that Ben Solo was alive, wouldn’t they need to seize him? Possibly that’s the place the “hunt” a part of the title got here from, however it’s vital to keep in mind 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 in regards to the devastation that Kylo Ren induced on Naboo and Coruscant that don’t must be proven within the motion pictures (it’s a battle, 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 point out that the specter of the First Order is actually gone. With everybody else lifeless, Kylo Ren is the one particular person they’ve left.

At that time, after a public trial, there are only some 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 can 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 may not rely for a lot.

As a substitute, there’s a strategy to carry Ben Solo again: as a Power ghost. He already died. There isn’t any magic hand-waving required right here. The viewers already noticed him fade into the residing Power. He didn’t seem with Luke and Leia on Tatooine, however it wouldn’t be stunning to see him make an look when Rey decides to begin 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 way of the residing Power in his quest to change into a Power ghost. To date, it’s unclear how precisely Jedi transfer on and change into one with the Power. This film may assist bridge the hole, broaden the lore of the Power, and proceed to flesh out Ben Solo’s journey of redemption.

If Adam Driver desires 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 signifies 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 calm 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 Power Awakens,” or Finn (John Boyega), who in all probability noticed Kylo Ren do so much 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, girls within the room — straight girls within the room — when he’s pursuing you, him making an attempt to kill you shouldn’t be part of the romance, okay,” Boyega defined. “Chasing him and saying, ‘We are able to change into 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 steer clear of 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 Power Awakens,” however appeared to get much less and fewer display screen time with every film. In “The Rise of Skywalker,” Finn stored operating round with a secret that he wished to inform Rey.