Following a stunt flying a banner over the Disney Studios in Burbank, fans continue to show support for Adam Driver and “The Hunt for Ben Solo” film that was rejected by Disney, this time by purchasing a billboard in New York City’s Times Square.
After the famously tight-lipped Driver dropped this bombshell news on Monday, Star Wars fans rallied around the film, and today’s stunt is the latest move in their attempt to make Disney greenlight the project. The billboard went up this afternoon at 1500 Broadway, between 43rd and 44th, right above the popular tourist spot, Carlo’s Bake Shop. It will run throughout the day, sharing the same message every twenty-eight minutes:
“For Adam. No one’s ever really gone. Hope lives. Ben is alive! #THBS”
The billboard was purchased by B.D. Neagle, who spoke with Collider about the fan-led movement. “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.” She went on to explain, “The intent was to show Disney this is what fans actually want. ‘No one’s ever really gone’ I believe, says it all. If they could bring back Palpatine with one line, there are plenty of ways Ben could return that already fit into Star Wars lore.” Neagle added:
“What makes this fight for Ben Solo different is that we know a finished script exists. There was a director attached, and Adam Driver himself had been looking for a way to tell Ben’s story. It’s no longer simply wanting a character to return. It’s about fighting for a story that was ready to be told. We know it’s out there, and because of that, we’re not giving up. We want Disney to know they made a mistake. It’s not often the Star Wars fandom agrees and that alone should tell them something. Ben Solo/Kylo Ren is so popular that fan fiction based on his relationship with Rey has become New York Times best sellers, leading to movie deals. I’m not sure they understand the power this character has.”
Would you want to see a Ben Solo sequel film set after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker? Let us know your thoughts…
