Director Shawn Levy shares a hopeful update on his Star Wars movie, which was announced last month. Following the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga with Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, the future of the franchise in terms of feature films has been unclear. A number of projects have been announced, including Rogue Squadron from Patty Jenkins and an untitled Taika Waititi movie, but little progress has been made on these films since their unveiling. Last month, it was revealed that Levy, who is best known for his work on Stranger Things, The Adam Project, and Free Guy, is in early development on his very own Star Wars movie, although details on the project are scarce.
In a recent interview with Collider, Levy discusses his announced Star Wars movie and provides an update regarding how the project fits into his busy schedule directing Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool 3. While it doesn’t sound like the director will be getting to really dig into the announced project anytime soon, he does express that he’s very much committed to ensuring that the movie becomes a reality. Check out Levy’s full comment below:
“Yes. I’m very aware of the ratio of filmmakers who get to the starting line. As you know, Steve, I’m a student of the business, and so of course I note that. But here’s my attitude: I have this golden ticket into a galaxy far away, and I’m going to devote myself to developing a screenplay that gives me the privilege of making this movie. I don’t attach to things because it looks good in a trade announcement. I attach to things that I intend to make. And you better believe I’m not going to squander this juiciest of opportunities. I’m going to work my ass off. But first, I got to work my ass off on making Deadpool. So it’s definitely longer-term planning, but I want to be one of the movies that gets to the starting line because these are rare opportunities, and I want to make the most of it.”
“I’ve been talking with Kathy Kennedy for a while now, and she’s been aware of my passion for this franchise for a long time. The stars finally aligned, and she came to me and was like, let’s do something here. And that’s as much as I can say. But this is definitely development and not yet close to prep. So there’s a lot of work to be done.”
Why Shawn Levy Is A Good Fit For Star Wars
Star Wars movies have always had a strong mix of action, humor, and heart, and most of Levy’s projects have featured a combination of these same elements. The Adam Project, for example, tells the story of a time-traveling pilot who crash-lands on Earth and teams up with his younger self and late father to save his future. The film features plenty of action and jokes but also has a strong emotional core. It even features Reynolds wielding a weapon very similar to a Star Wars lightsaber. Free Guy, also starring Reynolds, is a light-hearted adventure with visual effects-heavy action but touching emotional moments as well. Like Star Wars, both of these movies are also aimed at audiences of all ages.
While Stranger Things is not a feature film, Levy’s producing and directing work on the hit Netflix series is another strong indicator that he would be a good fit for George Lucas’ galaxy far, far away. Stranger Things features more of a horror atmosphere than Star Wars ever has, but the series impressively blends practical and visual effects, something that the latter franchise has always done as well. While there have been a number of legitimate complaints levied at Disney’s Star Wars trilogy, the newest batch of films pushes the boundaries in terms of effects work, featuring stunning sets and props combined with state-of-the-art CGI.
What Shawn Levy’s Star Wars Movie Could Be About
No information has been released thus far regarding the story for Levy’s Star Wars movie, but it’s likely that the project will be disconnected from Disney’s latest trilogy and the Skywalker Saga. While it’s possible that the movie will take place at some point between previous entries in the franchise, like Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, it might be more interesting to see a new story with new characters set after Palpatine’s second defeat and the fall of the New Order. Alternatively, the upcoming movie could also take place decades before the Skywalker Saga even begins.
Source: Collider