Star Wars fans have become convinced that the previously scrapped film, "The Hunt for Ben Solo," may be back in development, spurred by recent news of Adam Driver's casting in Marvel's upcoming X-Men reboot.
Disney confirmed that Driver will portray Mr. Sinister in the new X-Men film, with the actor appearing in a video message that, according to fans, was filmed at Pinewood Studios. This location is notably associated with many recent Star Wars productions. The fan speculation intensified despite Lucasfilm co-president Dave Filoni seemingly referring to the "Hunt for Ben Solo" project as "scrapped" and stating that it was not currently in development.
Many fans interpret Driver's appearance at Pinewood Studios, a location he knows well from his Star Wars work, as a deliberate hint towards a revived Star Wars project. Some social media posts suggest that Disney intentionally wanted the location to be noticed, believing it points to something other than his MCU role, which is not slated to begin filming until next year. Further fueling these theories, Filoni's comment about the film not being made "right now" has been dissected, with some viewing it as a subtle indicator that it could still happen. Filoni's use of a Jedi mind trick gesture in his statement has also been cited as a potential clue.
Driver's potential involvement in the MCU had been a subject of speculation for some time, with rumors previously linking him to the role of Reed Richards. However, "The Hunt for Ben Solo," a project pursued by Driver and director Steven Soderbergh for several years, was reportedly shelved by former Disney executive Bob Iger. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, some fans believe Driver's MCU casting implies a larger agreement that could include the revival of his Star Wars project. Both Driver and Soderbergh have publicly expressed regret over the film not moving forward. Former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy also commented that the script for "The Hunt for Ben Solo" was "great."
While the notion of Disney reviving "The Hunt for Ben Solo" might potentially facilitate Driver's MCU appearance, there is no direct evidence to support the fan theories. Actors often take on new roles for various reasons, and Driver has not indicated any reluctance to work with Disney again after the original project fell through. Pinewood Studios has indeed been used for numerous Star Wars films, including the sequel trilogy, "Rogue One," and "Solo," but it has also served as a filming location for several Marvel projects, such as "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," and "Avengers: Doomsday," making the location itself not exclusive to Star Wars.
Fan activity to support the movie has included banners flown over Walt Disney Studios and expressions of dissatisfaction at the premiere of "The Mandalorian and Grogu." While the possibility of "The Hunt for Ben Solo" eventually happening cannot be ruled out, Adam Driver's casting in the X-Men is likely not definitive proof of its revival.