Steven Soderbergh Talks Franchise Future After Scrapped STAR WARS Kylo Ren Movie: “I’m The Cockroach”
There was a moment when a Star Wars movie centered on Kylo Ren’s return almost became a reality. Now, that idea is officially in the past, and director Steven Soderbergh is opening up about what happened and whether he’d ever step into another massive franchise again. The answer isn’t what you might expect, and honestly, it’s pretty on-brand for him.
Even though Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren, also known as Ben Solo, met his end in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the character connected with a lot of fans. That interest spiked when Driver revealed he had tried to bring the character back in a new film titled The Hunt for Ben Solo, with Soderbergh attached to direct.
It would’ve been a pretty wild swing for the filmmaker, marking his first real dive into blockbuster franchise territory. But, it didn’t happen. Lucasfilm ultimately shelved the project, and while fans are still hoping for a reversal, Soderbergh doesn’t seem to think that’s in the cards.
When asked if the experience made him hesitant about big franchise filmmaking, Soderbergh gave a response that perfectly captures his attitude toward the industry:
“No, I’m comfortable. I’m the cockroach after the nuclear winter [laughs]. There’s no version of the business that I don’t think I can find a way through. I didn’t view that as stepping into the maw of some machine that was going to chew me up.
“It’s conceivable—whether it’s an idea that I generate or if I’m approached by something that is ‘hell yeah!’—that I would find myself working in a franchise context. I’m not worried about that. I can function properly in that atmosphere.”
Soderbergh isn’t intimidated by franchise filmmaking, but he also isn’t chasing it. If the right project comes along, sure, he’s in. If not, he’s perfectly fine continuing to do his own thing.
And that “own thing” has been working out just fine. Since breaking out with Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Soderbergh has built a career jumping between genres and budgets.
From Erin Brockovich to the Ocean’s trilogy, Magic Mike, and Logan Lucky, he’s carved out a space where he can experiment without being tied down to a single lane.
Still, missing out on The Hunt for Ben Solo wasn’t nothing. Soderbergh said he was genuinely excited about what that project could’ve been:
“Star Wars was going to occupy that slot. That was going to be the biggest thing I’ve ever attempted to make. And I was excited about working on a big canvas.”
This wasn’t just another job. It was a chance to go bigger than he ever had before, and for a director who usually plays in the small-to-mid budget space these days, that kind of opportunity doesn’t come around often.
Unfortunately, it sounds like the core idea didn’t click with Disney. Soderbergh had previously explained that while Lucasfilm was on board, the higher-ups at Disney couldn’t quite get on board with the concept of bringing Kylo Ren back to life. So even with new leadership in place, he’s accepted that this version of the story isn’t happening.
A Kylo Ren-focused film directed by Soderbergh and developed with Adam Driver and Rebecca Blunt could’ve been something really unique in the Star Wars universe.
As for what’s next in that galaxy far, far away, there’s still plenty on the way. The Mandalorian & Grogu is set to hit theaters on May 22, followed by Star Wars: Starfighter on May 28, 2027.
On the streaming side, Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord is available now on Disney+, and Ahsoka Season 2 is expected to arrive sometime in 2026.
