Is Star Wars: Starfighter a true reset for the galaxy far, far away. Director Shawn Levy reveals how many familiar faces will show up in the film.
Star Wars has had a major problem in recent years. Well, quite a few major problems, but perhaps the most prominent is that the franchise seems absolutely allergic to new ideas. Every tentpole project is either connected to or features cameos from previous iconic storylines. This led many to assume that Star Wars: Starfighter will be much the same.
However, it seems as though the project may actually be forging a new path for the well-worn franchise. Director Shawn Levy recently appeared on The Playlist podcast to discuss his work on Star Wars: Starfighter. It seems that, not only were they not mandated to use existing characters, they were highly encouraged not to!
“Every time I’ve asked, ‘Should I use this character that was maybe in that movie?’ Every time it’s, ‘You know what? People have seen that. Do something new.’ There is no mandate or interference other than the constant encouragement, ‘Make this new.’ And that’s the truth.”
“Unlike Solo… unlike Rise of Skywalker, which was a sequel to two other movies and ultimately a ninth film in the Skywalker saga, Starfighter is all new characters based on new ideas that Jonathan and I cooked up alone and together.”
The Gamble Of Star Wars: Starfighter
Star Wars: Starfighter isn’t just a movie, it’s a gamble. Star Wars has been playing it safe ever since its Disney Plus renaissance in 2019 which proved that remixes of the familiar work much better than the big swings taken in The Last Jedi. Yet as that concept wears thin, Shawn Levy is the director chosen to try to inject some new life into the franchise.
It’s an interesting direction, given Star Wars: Starfighter is set to be the first tentpole film in the series not to focus on the story of the Jedi (or Han Solo). The success or failure of this film will likely come down to how effectively Shawn Levy can capture the dogfights between space ships, which will most certainly be the bulk of action sequences in this film.
Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter is set to release on May 28, 2027. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the Star Wars universe!
