Sorry Adam Driver, However ‘Star Wars’ Is Higher Off With out Resurrecting Ben Solo

To kick this off, I’ll admit that I’m an enormous 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 pressure to resurrect Rey (Daisy Ridley). Maybe they took the “let the previous die, kill it if it’s important to” line a bit too far with the intention to transfer on from the Skywalker Saga, however resurrecting Ben Solo after his physique vanished and have become one with the Drive 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 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 advised theRelated Pressthat he “at all times was fascinated by 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 mentioned: With an important director and an important story, I’d be there in a second. I beloved that character and beloved 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 acquired the approval from Kennedy, Lucasfilm vice chairman 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 beloved the concept. They completely understood our angle and why we had been doing it,” Driver mentioned. “We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, they usually mentioned 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 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 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 by seeing Driver again on display screen.

Many have already identified that there are a lot of, some ways to carry somebody again to life within the “Star Wars” universe, because it has already been completed 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 toes about resurrecting one more character).

Right here’s the factor, although. Ben Solo died and light into the residing Drive. Whereas Disney may in all probability use some Drive dyad handwaving to clarify 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 and make reparations.

However there’s an issue with that. If the New Republic acquired wind that Ben Solo was alive, wouldn’t they wish to seize him? Perhaps 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 concerning the devastation that Kylo Ren precipitated on Naboo and Coruscant that don’t have to be proven within the films (it’s a struggle, a number of 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 basically gone. With everybody else useless, Kylo Ren is the one individual 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 won’t rely for a lot.

As a substitute, there’s a option to carry 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, however it wouldn’t be shocking to see him make an look when Rey decides to begin up her personal Jedi faculty, as many have anticipated.

If something, a Ben Solo film may bridge the hole between “Starfighter” and Rey’s Jedi film, displaying Ben Solo make a journey by way 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, develop the lore of the Drive, 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 is going to occur to the character from there.

Perhaps 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 must be some type of endgame for the character. Will he cool 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 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 Could 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 attempting to kill you just isn’t part of the romance, okay,” Boyega defined. “Chasing him and saying, ‘We are able to 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 mentioned that Finn would have inspired Rey to avoid Ben, redeemed or not. In his phrases: “If I had been Finn there, Finn ought to’ve had a line the place he’d say, ‘Lady, depart him be. Come house 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 important run in “The Drive Awakens,” however appeared to get much less and fewer display screen time with every film. In “The Rise of Skywalker,” Finn saved operating round with a secret that he needed to inform Rey.