Forget Star Wars: Adam Driver Is Coming for James Bond

Adam Driver is a bit of a force of nature when it comes to portraying villains with layers – as anyone who sat through the Star Wars sequels will know. You might remember him as Kylo Ren: the mask, the tantrums, the genuinely emotional family baggage. Born Ben Solo (that’s Han and Leia’s kid, if you’re fuzzy on the lore), Kylo went from promising Jedi apprentice to galaxy-threatening baddie, before dying the classic redemption-arc death at the business end of The Rise of Skywalker.

What’s less well known is that Adam Driver and director Steven Soderbergh actually pitched Lucasfilm a spin-off film, boldly titled The Hunt for Ben Solo. Apparently, Lucasfilm were keen, but things fizzled out when Disney bosses Bob Iger and Alan Bergman turned the idea down flat. Despite the studio’s love for the concept, Disney’s top brass basically showed them the door.

Why Driver Would Nail a Bond Villain

Now, leaving Star Wars behind, there’s a real argument to be made that Driver’s future as a screen villain ought to involve tuxedos, gadgets, and Aston Martins instead: the next big bad for James Bond. It’s hardly a radical suggestion when you look at recent Bond history – the last three villains were all played by actors with rather a lot of awards on their shelves: Javier Bardem, Christoph Waltz, and Rami Malek, all Oscar winners. Driver isn’t quite an Oscar winner himself, but he has not one but two nominations, which puts him comfortably in the premium villain pool.

If you’re wondering who else is in the mix, a prediction betting site called Kalshi actually has Driver as one of the favourites to square up against 007 in Denis Villeneuve’s rumoured Bond reboot. His name is floating around with the likes of Cillian Murphy, Idris Elba, and Barry Keoghan. Not exactly shabby company.

Recap of the Star Wars Sequel Situation

• Adam Driver played Kylo Ren (aka Ben Solo) across the Star Wars sequel trilogy
• Kylo’s saga ends when he sacrifices himself to bring Rey back, capping off The Rise of Skywalker
• Driver and Soderbergh tried to get a Ben Solo spin-off made; Lucasfilm loved it, but Disney bosses killed it
• Despite the trilogy’s issues (mainly that third film – not exactly a critical darling), Driver’s acting was a highlight, making Kylo Ren a refreshingly messy and conflicted Star Wars villain
• Bond is being rebooted at Amazon MGM Studios, with Denis Villeneuve rumoured to direct
• Driver has already thrived as the bad guy in the first film of a new blockbuster era (see: The Force Awakens) – seems like a solid case for tapping him as Bond’s next nemesis

And a Quick Word on Bond

If you’ve missed it, Bond is currently in reset mode. Amazon MGM Studios are hunting for their next 007, and Denis Villeneuve is being whispered about as the next man in the director’s chair. Driver, who’s already weathered the storm of relaunching a massive franchise, could bring the same intensity and unpredictability that made his Kylo Ren so interesting – but this time, steering MI6 into absolute chaos.