Starfighter Director Shawn Levy Promises a Fresh Take on Star Wars

Director Shawn Levy recently discussed the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, confirming to Collider that the film will not be a prequel or sequel. Instead, Levy described it as an all-new story with new characters and a new location in the Star Wars timeline. He said the project will of course include familiar themes from the franchise’s history but is designed to offer something original for longtime fans and new audiences alike.

Levy explained that the tone of the film draws inspiration from the 1977 original, describing it as a return to the sense of wonder and humor that defined A New Hope. “We’re really trying to take that tone as our north star every day,” he told reporters, calling it “a spirit of play and a big-hearted adventure with moments of real levity that, frankly, A New Hope had in a revolutionary way.”

He credited Lucasfilm for creating a supportive and open creative environment. “There’s no pressure to be derivative or limited by an obligation to what came before. There’s just a love of what came before,” Levy said. Speaking to Collider, he added, “My 10-year-old self is on set with me every day. In fact, he’s going to catch a flight tonight to go back to the set and keep shooting Monday.”

The story takes place several years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, following the collapse of the First Order and the fall of Emperor Palpatine’s Sith loyalists. Levy described the film as “a huge, invigorating opportunity” and said Lucasfilm has been fully supportive of his goal to “rediscover the wonder of Star Wars for a new generation.”

Levy’s previous work on films like Deadpool & Wolverine and Free Guy make me hopeful for this, but can Starfighter truly bring something new or rely on nostalgia? All Disney really needs to do is make “Top Gun in space” since they have the same cinematographer from Top Gun: Maverick and Tron: Legacy. But you know they’re going to slip Rey in there somewhere after a note from the C-Suite comes down.

Levy’s reputation for combining energy, humor, and emotional storytelling has earned cautious optimism. What remains to be seen is whether Star Wars: Starfighter can capture the same spark that made the original trilogy a cultural milestone nearly fifty years ago. I won’t hold my breath.

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