Star Wars fans are convinced the Hunt for Ben Solo is back on, after Adam Driver’s X-Men announcement video was filmed at Pinewood Studios. Disney confirmed the X-Men reboot’s cast over the weekend, with Driver as Mister Sinister — and the video message he recorded for the reveal was shot at the studio that hosted the sequel trilogy, Rogue One and Solo. The cast list, including Driver, is here.
The theory has survived Dave Filoni’s D23 answer, in which the Lucasfilm co-president said of the scrapped project: “We’re not making that picture right now, that’s all we can say.” The wording has not gone unnoticed.
Why fans think the Hunt for Ben Solo is back on
“I’m actually spiraling a little bit why the fuck is he at pinewood,” wrote one fan. Others cite the Jedi mind trick gesture Driver makes while saying the film is not being made, and photographs of him dining in the UK with someone who looks like Steven Soderbergh. Some of that is speculation; one of those photos is a man eating dinner.
Pinewood is less specific than the theory needs. It has also hosted The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, and Soderbergh has said he has moved on. IGN’s read is that the case rests on hope rather than evidence. Screen Rant notes the X-Men film opens 5 May 2028.
The project’s history explains the reaction. Driver and Soderbergh spent years developing a film following Kylo Ren before former Disney boss Bob Iger set it aside; Kathleen Kennedy called the script “great”. Fans have since flown a “Save The Hunt for Ben Solo” banner over Walt Disney Studios, and Marvel’s courtship of Driver has its own history — Kevin Feige admits the actor turned the MCU down “so often it’s a tradition”.
Could the film still happen? Yes. Does Driver’s Marvel casting prove it? No — actors take roles for all sorts of reasons, and some of those reasons are the role.
What was The Hunt for Ben Solo?
The Hunt for Ben Solo was a Star Wars film project developed for years by Adam Driver and director Steven Soderbergh. It followed Kylo Ren’s story after the sequel trilogy. Former Disney CEO Bob Iger shelved it; Kathleen Kennedy called the script “great”. Driver first mentioned the project publicly last October.
Why do fans think the Hunt for Ben Solo is back on?
Adam Driver’s X-Men announcement video was shot at Pinewood Studios, where recent Star Wars films were made. Fans also point to Dave Filoni’s “not right now” wording at D23, a Jedi mind trick gesture in the video, and photos of Driver dining with someone who resembles Soderbergh. None of it is confirmed.
Is the Hunt for Ben Solo actually happening?
There is no official word. IGN’s read is that the theory rests on hope rather than evidence: Pinewood also hosts Marvel productions, and Soderbergh has said he has moved on. The X-Men casting alone is not proof the Star Wars film is back.
