‘I Know The Cool Answer Would Be Empire.’ The Star Wars Movie Shawn Levy Says Most Inspired Starfighter

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The new Star Wars movie, currently being made by director Shawn Levy, is generating a lot of buzz. While it aims to be a new and exciting addition to the Star Wars universe created by George Lucas, it will likely still feel familiar to fans. Levy has been careful not to reveal too much about the film, which stars Ryan Gosling, but recently shared that one previous Star Wars movie heavily inspired his vision for the story.

Shawn Levy has often talked about being a huge Star Wars fan his whole life, and he knows the franchise well. He recently discussed Starfighter on the On Film…With Kevin McCarthy Podcast (available on YouTube), revealing which film from the original Star Wars trilogy heavily influenced how he made his own movie. While he avoided sharing any major plot details, he did share this source of inspiration.

I’ve been hesitant to say this publicly, because everyone always asks which Star Wars film Starfighter most resembles, or which one inspired it the most. While many would expect me to say The Empire Strikes Back, or even A New Hope, I actually think it’s most similar to Return of the Jedi.

During the interview, the director of Free Guy said Return of the Jedi is his favorite Star Wars movie. However, Jedi hasn’t always been considered as strong as the first two films, Star Wars: A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Some people find it too lighthearted compared to the more serious tone of Empire. Even director Denis Villeneuve has said that Jedi negatively impacted the franchise when it came out.

I’ve noticed Shawn Levy still really loves The Empire Strikes Back, and honestly, that’s awesome. He even shared something fascinating – that famous Luke and Vader scene from the film actually influenced how he approached some of the technical stuff on Deadpool & Wolverine! He’s been thinking a lot about Empire while working on Starfighter, and he says it’s because of a few really important things within the movie itself.

I think of it as a Jedi movie because it perfectly blended a great story with fun, excitement, emotion, and amazing visuals. It really resonated with me, and I actually saw it in theaters more times than the first two Star Wars films. It’s stayed with me ever since. Even now, when I’m directing, I sometimes feel like that kid is right there with me, helping me fulfill his vision.

Shawn Levy, the director of The Adam Project, shared in November that about half of the upcoming film Starfighter had been shot. Filming began back in August. The story is set five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker and will follow a new set of characters. The cast includes Ryan Gosling, a lifelong Star Wars fan, along with Matt Smith, Flynn Gray, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, and Amy Adams.

Disney+ starts at $11.99 per month with ads. You can access the entire Star Wars saga, including the original trilogy, by subscribing. An ad-free plan is available for $18.99 monthly, or you can save 16% by paying $189.99 upfront for a year. Check out the deal here!

Shawn Levy’s Starfighter aims to be a fun, exciting adventure with plenty of heart, much like other Star Wars films. However, I’m also hoping it will stand out as something special. The movie comes to theaters on May 28, 2027. While you wait, you can enjoy other Star Wars classics – including Return of the Jedi – by subscribing to Disney+.

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2025-11-30 21:08