Director Shawn Levy, fresh off the success of Deadpool & Wolverine, is gearing up to embark on a new cinematic journey: the Star Wars universe. With the vast and complex lore already established, Levy faces the daunting task of crafting a fresh and original story that resonates with both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
Shawn Levy Talks About His Star Wars Movie
A scene from Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. Image Credit: Walt Disney Studios
Following the end of the Star Wars sequel trilogy in 2019, numerous new projects have been announced with various directors. Shawn Levy‘s involvement was revealed in 2022, and the most significant update came earlier this year, confirming that his frequent collaborator, Jonathan Tropper, would be writing the script.
The story, according to Levy, is being crafted thoughtfully to ensure it does not feel redundant. “The experience of crafting this story has forced me to think about that question,” Levy said on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast.
“Because there’s only so many times that Star Wars movies can revisit the same section of the timeline, and so it’s really forced me – because I don’t want to do a Star Wars movie that is redundant to others, nor am I interested in doing one that has to serve another movie.“
While Levy intends to introduce fresh elements, he assures fans that the core themes of the franchise will remain. “I really wanted to craft something that felt organic to me, both in tone and characters, so I think that there is certainly the Force and a connection to something bigger than our individual selves,” he said. “And the way that that can make us powerful, those themes, combined with visual delight and wish fulfillment, that’s Star Wars to me,” he added.
Despite the absence of plot details, Levy has shared his excitement about the project’s concept on On Demand Entertainment. “Jonathan Tropper is writing my Star Wars film, and we have an idea that is really exciting to us and exciting to [Lucasfilm president] Kathy Kennedy and [chief creative officer] Dave Filoni,” he mentioned. Although development is never guaranteed to reach production, Levy remains hopeful. “One never knows if development reaches the starting gate, but my hope is that it will. I definitely can’t share anything [more].”
A Dream Come True Moment For Shawn Levy
Shawn levy. Image Credit; Gage Skidmore/CC
Levy’s Star Wars film was announced in November 2022, but he had to complete other commitments before fully engaging with this new endeavor. In September 2023, he expressed his enthusiasm about joining the Star Wars universe, calling it a “bucket-list” moment. “Getting that call was a great day,” Levy recalled in an interview with TotalFilm. “I’m putting everything I have into it because I love that world, and it is a privilege to get to join that galaxy.“
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Several other Star Wars movies are currently in development. Jon Favreau is working on The Mandalorian & Grogu, a sequel to The Rise of Skywalker featuring Daisy Ridley as Rey is also in the works, and James Mangold is developing a film about the origins of The Force. Additionally, there are plans for a solo Lando Calrissian movie, along with projects from directors Taika Waititi, Rian Johnson, and Patty Jenkins.
