Adam Driver hasn't appeared in Star Wars since the sequel trilogy ended with Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been trying to orchestrate a return to the franchise. Driver recently revealed that he had a pitch rejected by Disney that would have seen Kylo Ren/Ben Solo somehow survive the events of Episode IX and embark upon a solo adventure.
The Search for Ben Solo was expected to be directed by Steven Soderbergh (Magic Mike, Ocean's Eleven) and was outlined in collaboration with Driver himself and screenwriter Rebecca Blunt. Not many details about the unmade movie have been made available, but it is known that the project is not part of Star Wars' future plans. That said, I think the idea can easily be folded into another upcoming movie.
Ben Solo can still return in Star Wars: New Jedi Order with Daisy Ridley
The current status of Daisy Ridley's Rey Skywalker is far less murky than Ben Solo's. While Driver was pushing for his character's apparent resurrection with his now-abandoned movie idea, Rey very clearly survived the events of Episode IX. Announced in 2019, Star Wars: New Jedi Order is expected to show Ridley's character rebuild the movie's titular group of Force-users.
Although the bond between Rey and Kylo Ren felt incredibly forced during points of the sequel trilogy, it can't be ignored that the two have a canonically strong connection. As such, it would make perfect sense if Driver were to reprise his role in New Jedi Order for an on-screen reunion with Ridley.
Star Wars has largely tried to distance itself from the sequel trilogy since it ended, due to the largely negative comments about the scripts and other elements of the movies. That said, properties like The Mandalorian and Ahsoka have flirted with the edges of eras that approach the setting of 2015's The Force Awakens and beyond.
New Jedi Order is the franchise's first solid nod to the sequels since 2019, so I don't think there's much point in playing it coy by only bringing Rey back. Driver's evident passion for playing Ben Solo means he'd almost definitely return if asked, and by doing so, he'd be creating a more substantial follow-up to the divisive Episode IX.
New Jedi Order would need to be very careful if it brought Adam Driver back
Star Wars is still reeling from its misguided decision to include the line: "Somehow, Palpatine returned." While it would make sense that the Resistance would have no idea how Ian McDiarmid's iconic villain had risen from the dead, that line made it very much seem like Star Wars wanted to bring the Emperor back without going through the fuss of providing a canon explanation.
With Ben Solo very much appearing to perish in Episode IX, any comeback for Adam Driver would need to be executed with far more grace. This doesn't make a return for Ben Solo impossible in New Jedi Order, but it would need to be handled with care and written immaculately well. Otherwise, the Star Wars sequel era could come under fire again in a project intended for redemption.
Star Wars: New Jedi Order currently has no release date, but shooting is expected to begin at some point in 2026.