The Star Wars fandom has been rocked by the surprising cancellation of a highly anticipated film centered on Adam Driver's character, Ben Solo. Titled “The Hunt for Ben Solo,” the movie was slated to be a direct sequel to “The Rise of Skywalker,” exploring Ben Solo’s journey after his return to the light side. Despite receiving full approval from Lucasfilm, the project was reportedly rejected by Disney at the eleventh hour, with executives citing doubts about the character’s survival.

This abrupt decision has ignited a passionate and widespread fan campaign to persuade Disney to reconsider. In the days following the news, Star Wars enthusiasts have taken their activism to prominent locations, including Times Square, where billboards have appeared, and banners have flown in the sky, all campaigning for the revival of “The Hunt for Ben Solo.” The movement has continued to gain momentum, with fans circulating “missing posters” of Ben Solo, notably spearheaded by fan Brianna Johns, who has been tirelessly working to change Disney’s mind.

In an exclusive interview with Collider’s Maggie Lovitt, Johns articulated the motivation behind the “missing poster” campaign: “Because Ben Solo disappeared. Where did he go? Fans want answers (and I’m sure Rey does too.) Star Wars exists on the level it does in the cultural zeitgeist because of its fans.” She further emphasized the rare unity within the often-divided fandom, noting, “When the news of The Hunt For Ben Solo broke, the outcry was outrageous. In a fandom that’s usually heavily divided, it was both astonishing and refreshing to see everyone coming together. What’s more is it gave me hope. Two years of development from Adam [Driver] and Steven [Soderbergh] just for this project be shelved feels like a disservice to us all.”

Beyond digital and large-scale protests, fans have also been seen posting flyers outside major Disney locations, including Disneyland in Anaheim and Disney Studios in Burbank. These flyers have also appeared in other cultural hubs like Amoeba Records, Fingerprint Records, and Retro Row in the Hollywood and Long Beach areas. Brianna Johns plans to continue her outreach by canvassing Culver City and Hollywood with posters, making them digitally available for global fan participation.

While “The Hunt for Ben Solo” remains on indefinite hold, the narrative from “The Rise of Skywalker” will continue with a confirmed “New Jedi Order” movie starring Daisy Ridley. This upcoming film, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, will be set several years after the events of “The Rise of Skywalker” and will feature Rey training a new generation of Jedi. Although plot details are currently under wraps, the existence of both projects could have presented intriguing crossover potential. As the fan campaign for Ben Solo’s return persists, the future of the Star Wars cinematic universe continues to unfold with new developments.