Adam Driver Opens Up About Joining the MCU’s X-Men And Why His Star Wars Return May Never Happen

Adam Driver has a busy few years ahead of him, and he’s finally stepping into a comic book franchise that has been on his radar since childhood. The Star Wars actor recently made headlines after being cast as the villain Nathaniel Essex, better known as Mister Sinister, in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men movie. But while Driver is excited about joining the MCU, he also has some thoughts about another beloved character fans have been hoping to see again: Kylo Ren.

Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Driver revealed that Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige had approached him about joining the franchise several times over the years. The actor had repeatedly turned down the opportunities, but eventually felt the timing was right.

“I was a big X-Men fan when I was a kid,” Driver explained. “Me and my cousin, Tony, he would be Sabretooth and I would be Wolverine. It’s a big deal. I was a big fan. I mean, I was a fan of the other things too. But this one felt like a right time, and then it’s X-Men.”

The opportunity also came together thanks to director Jake Schreier and the vision he had for the project. Driver was particularly impressed with the material, explaining that the combination of Schreier, Feige, and the script ultimately convinced him to sign on.

“It was really X-Men and Jake Schreier, who’s the director, his idea for it, and that it’s Kevin Feige,” Driver said. “You know, it all kind of came together. The script is really cool.”

Driver’s casting was announced at D23 in August, and the actor knows there’s a considerable amount of expectation that comes with joining a franchise as beloved as X-Men. He’s also well aware that fans will be watching closely to see what he brings to the iconic Marvel villain.

“A lot of people are going to watch it, and if it’s bad, a lot of people will see you being bad,” he admitted to Kimmel. “Plus, I don’t want to mess it up. I’m a huge fan of X-Men.”

Adam Driver Almost Returned As Kylo Ren In A Standalone Star Wars Movie

While Driver is preparing to enter the Marvel universe, speculation about a possible return to Star Wars has continued to follow him. His character, Kylo Ren, met his fate in The Rise of Skywalker, but that hasn’t stopped fans from wondering whether the actor could eventually reprise the role.

As it turns out, there was actually a serious attempt to bring Ben Solo back in a standalone movie. During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Driver revealed that a project with the working title The Hunt for Ben Solo had been developed, with a script written alongside Scott Burns and Rebecca Blunt.

“We got a script together that was really good with Scott Burns and Rebecca Blunt,” Driver told Eisen. “We all worked on it. It was awesome. It was really cool.”

Unfortunately, the project never moved forward. According to Driver, the main obstacle was convincing the studio that Ben Solo could somehow still be alive after the events of the sequel trilogy.

“They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive,” he explained. “And that was that.”

Driver also made it clear that bringing the character back was never ultimately his decision. While he wouldn’t necessarily rule out the possibility, he seems realistic about the chances of it happening.

“If they wanted to, fine, but it’s not our call,” he said. “I think the ship has sailed, though.”

It’s certainly an interesting glimpse at what could have been, especially considering how much enthusiasm Driver still seems to have for the character. A standalone Ben Solo movie might have been an intriguing way to revisit the Star Wars universe, but for now, it sounds like fans shouldn’t hold their breath.

What’s Next For Adam Driver?

In the meantime, Driver has another major project arriving before he makes his Marvel debut. The actor stars alongside Scarlett Johansson and Miles Teller in James Gray’s Paper Tiger.

Set in 1986 Queens, New York, the film follows two brothers whose pursuit of the American Dream takes a dangerous turn when they become caught up in a scheme involving the Russian mafia. The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 13, courtesy of Neon.

Between a new chapter in the MCU and a crime thriller from one of cinema’s more distinctive filmmakers, Driver certainly isn’t slowing down. And while the possibility of seeing him as Ben Solo again may be fading, his upcoming turn as Mister Sinister gives fans another major franchise role to look forward to.

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