The galaxy far, far away is finally opening its blast doors to something completely unexpected. Shawn Levy has revealed that his upcoming Star Wars film, titled Starfighter, is being made with a level of creative liberty that is practically unheard of in the franchise’s history. Unlike previous directors who navigated strict lore guidelines, Levy claims his mandate from Lucasfilm is shockingly simple.
He has to make it new.
A surprising call from the studio
It is no secret that stepping into the Star Wars universe usually comes with a heavy set of instructions. Filmmakers often have to connect dots to existing trilogies or service decades of canon. But Shawn Levy says his experience has been the exact opposite.
The director opened up recently about the phone call that started it all. It happened back in August 2022. Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, reached out directly. She did not hand him a script or a specific era to cover. She simply asked him to make a movie.
“I said, ‘Well, what’s it a prequel to? What’s it a sequel to? Which one is it?’” Levy recalled asking during a recent interview.
The answer he got was the kind of blank check most directors only dream about. Kennedy told him to pick the writer and pick the story. Her only request was for Levy to bring the specific feeling that his movies are known for. This level of trust suggests a major pivot in how the studio is handling its future projects.
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The search for originality
This new approach marks a significant shift for Lucasfilm. In the past, the studio has parted ways with high-profile directors over “creative differences.”
Fans have watched projects transform or disappear when visions clashed. But Levy insists that his project, Starfighter, is protected from that interference. The studio seems to be reacting to a specific hunger in the audience. Viewers are looking for stories that do not rely on the Skywalker saga.
Levy noted that the encouragement to “make this new” is constant. It is not just a one-time permission. It is a daily directive.
breaking the legacy character cycle
One of the biggest crutches for franchise films is the cameo. It is easy to bring back a beloved face to secure ticket sales. Levy admits he was tempted to use this tool himself.
He explained that whenever he asked about using a character from a previous movie, the studio actually pushed back. They told him that people have already seen those characters. They wanted him to dig deeper.
This sets Starfighter apart from recent entries.
- Solo: A Star Wars Story relied heavily on Han Solo’s backstory.
- The Rise of Skywalker was the ninth chapter in a long family drama.
- The Mandalorian frequently ties into established animated and live-action lore.
Levy’s film is taking the harder road. He is building a cast of all-new characters. To do this, he tapped Jonathan Tropper to write the script. Tropper and Levy have a strong history of collaboration, most notably on The Adam Project. They are cooking up these new ideas in a vacuum, free from the weight of what came before.
“Starfighter is all new characters based on new ideas that Jonathan and I cooked up alone and together.” — Shawn Levy
exploring an untouched timeline
Perhaps the most exciting detail for hardcore fans is the setting. The Star Wars timeline is crowded. You have the prequel era, the original trilogy, the sequels, and the High Republic era in books.
Levy revealed that Starfighter takes place in a time period that has never been seen in a movie before. This is a massive strategic move. By choosing an untouched era, the creative team removes the risk of contradicting existing canon.
There is no need to worry about where Luke Skywalker is or what the Empire is doing if the story takes place centuries away from them.
Why the timeline matters
Choosing a fresh time period allows for new visual languages. The ships can look different. The politics can be unique. The threats do not have to be Sith or Empire-related.
This decision aligns with Levy’s comparison to his other original films. He stated that the freedom he has on Starfighter matches what he felt on Free Guy. That film was a massive hit largely because it felt fresh and unburdened. Bringing that energy to a galaxy far, far away could be the magic ingredient the franchise needs right now.
balancing freedom with fan pressure
Complete freedom does not mean zero pressure. In fact, it might mean more. When you are not leaning on Darth Vader or a Death Star, the story has to stand on its own two feet.
Levy was honest about the terror that comes with the job. He wants to get it right. The director felt the weight of the fandom firsthand during a trip to Japan for the Star Wars Celebration event.
He described the fan expectations as “palpable.” The audience is intense. They are passionate. They want the movies to be good, but they can also be harsh critics when things miss the mark.
Director Shawn Levy’s Recent Hit Streak:
| Movie Title | Global Box Office | Rotten Tomatoes Score |
|---|---|---|
| Deadpool & Wolverine | $1.3 Billion+ | 78% (Audience: 94%) |
| Free Guy | $331 Million | 80% |
| The Adam Project | Netflix Top 10 | 67% |
The hunger for something new was clear to him at that event. While the pressure is high, Levy feels lucky. He believes his movie is arriving at the perfect moment. The audience is ready to move on from the past and look toward a new horizon.
what comes next for starfighter
As of now, the production is moving at a steady pace. While Lucasfilm has not officially locked in a release date on the public calendar, industry analysts are looking at May 2027 as a strong possibility.
Writing a script from scratch takes time. Building a new era takes even longer. But if Levy and Tropper can deliver on the promise of a “joyful adventure” akin to the original 1977 film, the wait will be worth it.
The studio is betting big on originality. They are trusting a director who knows how to make crowd-pleasers. Starfighter represents a bold step into the unknown for a franchise that has spent a long time looking in the rearview mirror.
It is rare for a director to be told to ignore the past in a series defined by it. Shawn Levy has the keys to the kingdom, and for the first time in a long time, the destination is entirely up to him. We will be watching closely to see if this gamble pays off.
What do you think about a Star Wars movie with zero legacy characters? Let us know in the comments below or share your thoughts on X using #Starfighter and #StarWarsNewEra!
