Shawnโฃ Levy Details Significant Alterations to ‘Star Wars: Starfighter‘ During Advancement
LOS ANGELES, โขCA โฃ – Director Shawn Levy has โrevealed โconsiderableโ changesโ made to his planned Star Wars: Starfighter film during its development phase,โ ultimately leading toโ the project’sโ indefiniteโค pause. โขSpeaking on the Happyโฃ Sad Confused podcast, Levy detailed how the story evolved significantly from its initialโ concept, shifting focus and scope multiple times under Lucasfilm’s guidance.
Originally envisioned as a more intimate, character-driven story centeredโฃ around โขWedge Antillesโข and a squadron of Rebel pilots during the original trilogy era, Starfighter underwent โrevisions that broadened its narrativeโฃ to encompass a larger galacticโ conflict. Levy explained that Lucasfilm leadership requested incorporating elements tying โthe film more directly to the broader Star Wars saga, including connections โto established characters and โขevents. “It became a much bigger story,” Levy stated. “and at a certain point, I think they felt like, ‘Doโข we โฃwant to do this story now? Orโ doโ we โwant to wait until we have a clearer roadmapโ for theโ post-skywalker era?'”
The project, announced โin Decemberโ 2023, was intended toโข be Levy’s first foray into the โ Star Wars universe. He had assembled a โคwriting team and โbegun preliminary work on the โฃscript. However, following theโข release of Theโ Mandalorian and โother Disney+ series, Lucasfilm reassessedโ its film slate, prioritizing projects that aligned withโค its evolving storytelling strategy.Levy confirmed thatโ Starfighter is currently on hold, with no โfirmโ timeline for its potential revival. Heโฃ remains open โto revisiting the project should Lucasfilm decideโข to move forward,โ but acknowledges the significant changes that would likely be required.”I lovedโ theโค storyโข we were telling,” Levy said.”But I also understand the need forโฃ a โcohesive plan.”
