Adam Driver keeps rejecting Marvel and nobody knows why

Adam Driver has once again become a talking point among Marvel fans after Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that the Oscar nominated actor has repeatedly declined opportunities to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While rumours have frequently linked Driver to major comic book roles over the years, Feige revealed that discussions between the studio and the actor have become something of a recurring tradition.

Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Feige acknowledged Marvel's long standing interest in working with Driver and described the repeated conversations with good humour.

"It is no secret we would like to work with Adam," Feige said. "But it is a tradition to Zoom with him and then he passes. That is a long lived tradition. He could not be more cordial. He is usually upfront about how he is feeling."

Driver has already headlined one of Hollywood's biggest franchises through his portrayal of Kylo Ren, also known as Ben Solo, in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. His experience leading such a globally recognised series may explain why he has remained highly selective about committing to another long term blockbuster franchise.

The actor previously revealed that he had hoped to return to the Star Wars universe following Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Speaking to the Associated Press in 2025, Driver said he had worked alongside director Steven Soderbergh on developing a film centred on Ben Solo.

According to Driver, Lucasfilm responded positively to the concept before the proposal ultimately reached Disney executives Bob Iger and Alan Bergman.

"I always was interested in doing another Star Wars," Driver said at the time. "With a great director and a great story, I would be there in a second. I loved that character and loved playing him."

He added that Disney executives ultimately rejected the project because they did not believe there was a convincing way to explain Ben Solo's survival after the events of the final sequel film.

Marvel's continued pursuit of Driver highlights the studio's willingness to remain patient when it comes to actors it believes are a strong fit for future projects.