{"id":355080,"date":"2026-06-23T10:26:40","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T04:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=355080"},"modified":"2026-06-23T10:26:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T04:56:41","slug":"steven-soderberghs-axed-star-wars-film-allowed-him-to-finish-a-19-12-months-passion-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/06\/23\/steven-soderberghs-axed-star-wars-film-allowed-him-to-finish-a-19-12-months-passion-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Steven Soderbergh’s Axed ‘Star Wars’ Film Allowed Him To Finish A 19-12 months Passion Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

In late 2025, Adam Driver<\/strong> revealed that he had been working with director Steven Soderbergh <\/strong>on a \u201cStar Wars\u201d film that was titled \u201cThe Hunt for Ben Solo.\u201d The film would have featured his character, Ben Solo, who was introduced because the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia in 2015\u2019s \u201cThe Force Awakens.\u201d Nevertheless, he passed away at the top of 2019\u2019s \u201cThe Rise of Skywalker.\u201d Even so, Driver felt he had unfinished business with the character and spent just a few years developing a script with Soderbergh, who was set to direct. Unfortunately, Driver says Disney execs didn\u2019t understand how Ben Solo could still be alive and shut down the project. Although he was disenchanted that his film didn\u2019t come to fruition, Soderbergh has since revealed that the canceled project enabled him to pursue his own passion project.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

Steven Soderbergh Launches ‘Jaws’ Tribute App ‘Production 02074’; Creates Inventive Format For Spielberg’s Making-Of Shark Tale https:\/\/t.co\/gV11Ytreds<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Deadline (@DEADLINE) June 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

On June 20, Soderbergh released his app \u201cProduction 02074\u201d on the Apple Store and is currently working on an Android version. The app is a compilation of Steven Spielberg\u2019s 1975 blockbuster hit \u201cJaws\u201d and all of the work that went into making the movie.<\/p>\n

While talking to Deadline<\/a> about his recent app, Soderbergh revealed that he saw \u201cJaws\u201d over 30 times in theaters, and the app is a love letter to one of the crucial groundbreaking movies of all time. The app includes images as Spielberg shot them, together with observations and anecdotes provided by Spielberg himself. The app costs $24.99, with all proceeds going to an animal charity.<\/p>\n

Soderbergh Was Able To Finish The Project Because \u2018The Hunt for Ben Solo\u2019 Got Axed<\/h2>\n
Stefano Costantino \/ MEGA <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the course of the conversation, Soderbergh admitted, \u201cIf\u00a0Star Wars\u00a0<\/em>had gone forward, this wouldn\u2019t have gotten finished.\u201d<\/p>\n

He revealed that his plan to transition from a coffee table book to an app began directly after then-Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy<\/strong> called him to inform him that they weren’t moving forward with Driver\u2019s \u201cStar Wars\u201d film.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was within the immediate aftermath of that not happening. I began in on multiple writing projects, to each see if I could generate material to go and make as movies but in addition just to maintain myself occupied,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd literally, as soon as we got the decision, \u2018This shouldn’t be happening,\u2019 I believed, \u2018OK, it\u2019s time to actually sit down and get serious about ending this thing.\u2019 Had I gone off and made that movie, this thing wouldn’t have gotten done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soderbergh Says That Everyone Has Since \u2018Moved On\u2019 From The Project<\/h2>\n
\"Adam
Xavier Collin\/Image Press Agency \/ MEGA <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Earlier this yr, Adam Driver got rave reviews for his work on James Gray\u2019s \u201cPaper Tiger\u201d on the Cannes Film Festival. It\u2019s only considered one of many projects that the actor has lined up within the near future. <\/p>\n

Soderbergh admitted that although the choice to cancel the film was \u201cbaffling,\u201d he confessed, \u201cEverybody just immediately moved on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t burn a whole lot of calories on sh-t I can\u2019t control,\u201d he explained. \u201cThere\u2019s no upside to that. And in order soon as Kathy [Kennedy] called and said, \u2018It\u2019s not happening,\u2019 I used to be like, \u2018OK, moving on. I got to go to work.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Did Steven Soderbergh Throw Some Shade At Disney?<\/h2>\n
\"Steven
ZUMAPRESS.com \/ MEGA <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Elsewhere within the interview, they talked concerning the difficulty of reconciling studio and financial expectations with a director\u2019s vision. Soderbergh noted, \u201cMy response is, \u2018Well, what do you expect? Why would you expect them to have the vision that you’ve? In the event that they did, they\u2019d be doing what you\u2019re doing.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t expect enlightened visionary responses from the people who pay for movies. It\u2019s a pleasant surprise if you end up coping with a studio or an executive that gets it and totally sees what you\u2019re attempting to do, and is completely supportive and backs you in whatever request you make. But I don\u2019t expect that because the default,\u201d Soderbergh said.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t mention any studio or executive specifically, but some fans can\u2019t help but wonder if Soderbergh\u2019s comment was directed at Disney for shutting down his \u201cStar Wars\u201d film, or on the industry typically.<\/p>\n

Soderbergh Emphasizes Not \u2018Mulling Over Stuff You Can\u2019t Control\u2019<\/h2>\n
\"Steven
ZUMAPRESS.com \/ MEGA <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Elsewhere within the interview, Soderbergh made one other possible pass at Disney when he said that he \u201cwould relatively encourage a filmmaker to be prepared for people to not understand at times what you\u2019re attempting to do, and never see it until they see it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean you possibly can\u2019t trust people. It just means, don\u2019t expect everybody to feel about it the way in which you are feeling about it. Otherwise you\u2019re going to be disenchanted lots,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, he went on to say that \u201cdisappointment shouldn’t be an lively state,\u201d adding, \u201cIt’s essential to keep yourself in an lively state and be doing things, not only type of mulling over stuff that you could\u2019t control, or that is just too late to vary. You might have to know that you’ve a finite amount of real estate in your brain to present to whatever you\u2019re making. It’s essential to be ruthless about excluding noise that doesn\u2019t ultimately aid you make a greater version of the thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Megalopolis\u2019 Also Starred Adam Driver<\/h2>\n
\n
\n