Kevin Feige has now admitted a long-standing rumour in Hollywood. The idea of pitching Adam Driver for a Marvel role has become a running joke at the studio, always ending in the same way.
Speaking to Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Feige said, 'It's a tradition to Zoom with him, and then he passes. That's a long-lived tradition. He couldn't be more cordial. He is usually upfront about how he is feeling.'
The real explanation, though, has less to do with grudges and everything to do with who gets to direct.
A Director-First Rule
Since finishing Star Wars, Driver has built a career on chasing filmmakers with a singular vision — Ridley Scott, Michael Mann, Francis Ford Coppola — rather than chasing franchises. Mann, who cast him in Ferrari, said he was drawn to 'a real-world, factual intelligence to Adam' and 'a pretty fierce artistic ambition as an actor'.
That instinct conflicts with how Marvel operates, where scripts are shaped by committee and directors often work within a house style rather than imposing their own vision.
Passing on Marvel
That term 'tradition' suggests this isn't a one-off snub, but rather a repeated pattern. Reports indicate that Driver turned down the role of Reed Richards in Fantastic Four after reading the script and failing to connect with the character. The role eventually went to Pedro Pascal, a reminder that Marvel simply moves on when an actor passes.
Driver isn't allergic to blockbusters. He spent three films as Kylo Ren, and that substantial paycheque has allowed him to prioritise smaller, director-driven films in the years since.
Which brings us to Ben Solo. Driver had developed a Star Wars sequel centred on his character with director Steven Soderbergh, only for Disney to pass on it. 'I always was interested in doing another Star Wars', Driver told the Associated Press. 'Kathleen had reached out. I always said: with a great director and a great story, I'd be there in a second.' Soderbergh, reflecting on the film that never happened, said only that he'd enjoyed making the movie in his head.
What Really Happened to Ben Solo?
Feige has confirmed the pattern of rejections exists. However, he has not confirmed the reason behind this, and fans online have largely filled this gap by drawing a direct line from Ben Solo to a supposed Disney boycott.
Driver's own statements complicate that theory. He's said he'd return to Lucasfilm in a heartbeat given the right director and script. This sounds less like resentment and more like his consistent viewpoint: for him, the filmmaker is more important than the studio's name on the door.
The MCU's Fading Pitch
It's a tough sell for Marvel right now. A decade ago, during the prime Avengers era, joining Marvel was an offer no actor could turn down. It guaranteed instant superstardom and global fame.
Currently, with Marvel struggling with mixed reviews and unpredictable box-office hits, the studio can't rely on its name alone, especially for an actor like Driver, who is already a household name and doesn't need the exposure.
The Ultimate Leverage
Driver represents a rare case in Hollywood. He is an actor who navigated the franchise system, leveraged its benefits, and now works on his own schedule without adhering to anyone else's release calendar.
Feige can keep scheduling the Zoom calls, but unless Marvel presents a script and a director that justify the collaboration, it seems that this tradition will persist.
