Star Wars fans have escalated their efforts to persuade Disney CEO Bob Iger to reconsider the canceled "The Hunt for Ben Solo" project, a film starring Adam Driver as Ben Solo. Following a fan-commissioned plane flying over Disney Studios in California, another passionate fan purchased a billboard in New York City's Times Square. The billboard, located at 1500 Broadway, cycles its clear message every twenty-eight minutes: "For Adam. No one's ever really gone. Hope lives. Ben is alive! #THBS".

The "Hunt for Ben Solo" project, developed by Adam Driver and filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, was backed by Lucasfilm and had a finished script penned by Scott Z. Burns. Its primary goal was to provide a "course-correction" for Ben Solo's "confounding fate" as depicted in "The Rise of Skywalker," a narrative choice that reportedly became a sticking point for Disney's executives. Driver, who played Ben Solo (also known as Kylo Ren, son of Princess Leia and Han Solo) in the sequel trilogy, recently revealed this bombshell news, sparking a significant fan rally.

Steven Soderbergh publicly addressed the project, stating he "did not enjoy lying about the existence of ‘THE HUNT FOR BEN SOLO’" but emphasized its necessity for secrecy. He also revealed that Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy confirmed this was the first instance where a finished movie script was was rejected for greenlight by Disney. Both Soderbergh, who "really enjoyed making the movie in [his] head," and Driver, who called it "one of the coolest" projects he’d been involved with, expressed regret that fans might not see it.

B.D. Neagle, the fan behind the Times Square billboard, spoke with Collider, explaining her motivation: "I'm just a fan who thought Ben's story wasn't finished. I wanted to do what I could to support the fandom and everyone attached to The Hunt for Ben Solo." Neagle highlighted the belief that Ben Solo's return could fit within Star Wars lore, much like Palpatine's resurrection, and stressed that a finished script and Adam Driver's personal interest in the story make this campaign uniquely urgent. "It’s not often the Star Wars fandom agrees and that alone should tell them something," she added, underscoring the character's immense popularity, which has even inspired New York Times best-selling fan fiction like Ali Hazelwood's "The Love Hypothesis," now slated for a film adaptation by Amazon MGM Studios.

Fans speculate that Adam Driver intentionally revealed the project plans to galvanize the passionate fan base and pressure Disney, drawing parallels to Ryan Reynolds' alleged role in leaking "Deadpool" test footage that led to its greenlight. This fan movement extends beyond just film advocacy; fans are leveraging the increased attention on Ben Solo and "Reylos" (fans of the Rey/Ben Solo dynamic) to support a charitable cause. Lianna Al Allaf, who organized the banner flyover in California, also initiated a GoFundMe for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF).

The GoFundMe campaign has already surpassed its initial goal of $5,000, raising over $10,434. The PCRF is dedicated to providing free medical care and humanitarian aid to children in the Levant, regardless of their background, by funding life-saving surgeries, medical treatments, and essential supplies such as food, clothing, and educational materials. This unique blend of fan advocacy and humanitarian effort showcases the powerful impact of a united fandom, reminiscent of past campaigns like "Save Daredevil" that successfully pushed for the revival of beloved characters and stories.

The original "Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker," which concluded the landmark Skywalker saga, was released on December 18, 2019, directed by J.J. Abrams and starring Daisy Ridley as Rey and Adam Driver as Kylo Ren / Ben Solo. Despite its significant budget of $275 million and association with Lucasfilm and Disney, the film's creative choices regarding Ben Solo have clearly left a lasting impact, prompting this ongoing fan demand for a different narrative path.