We still don’t know much about Star Wars: Starfighter, but the people making it sound seriously confident. Screenwriter Jonathan Tropper has shared new comments about the project — and the tone suggests this isn’t just another familiar saga chapter. It’s aiming to be something new. Speaking about the film, Tropper praised director Shawn Levy and the creative direction of the movie. “Gosling is amazing to watch and I’m super excited to just bring new characters and new worlds to the franchise. You know, we’re doing something totally new and that’s really exciting.” He also made it clear he believes Levy delivered in a big way. Levy “made a phenomenal movie.” That’s strong language — especially for a franchise entry that’s stepping outside the usual legacy character orbit. A Focus on New Characters and Worlds The biggest takeaway from Tropper’s comments is the emphasis on originality. Star Wars projects often balance…
Star Wars: Starfighter
Star Wars: Starfighter Aims to Recapture the Joy of the Original Films, Says Screenwriter
Lucasfilm’s upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter is being positioned as both something new and something deeply familiar. According to screenwriter Jonathan Tropper, the film is designed to tap back into the sense of adventure, excitement, and pure cinematic joy that defined the original Star Wars experience for many viewers as kids. “The joy we felt as little kids” Speaking about the project, Tropper described the creative goal behind Starfighter in terms that longtime fans will immediately recognize. He explained that audiences should expect: “Something new and different, but in very much the spirit of the original Star Wars movies. We really wanted adventure, excitement, wish fulfillment and the joy that we felt as little kids seeing those first versions of the movies.” That framing suggests a tonal direction focused less on dense lore and more on emotional immediacy — the kind of storytelling that prioritizes wonder and momentum. Balancing mythology with…
STAR WARS: STARFIGHTER Will Not Feature Any Legacy Characters, Says Screenwriter
Lucasfilm’s upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter movie is shaping up to be a fresh start for the franchise — and that includes no appearances by legacy characters from previous films. According to screenwriter Jonathan Tropper, Starfighter is intentionally distancing itself from familiar faces like Luke Skywalker, Rey, or other established heroes and villains. Instead, Tropper says the story will entirely focus on new characters and a new chapter of the galaxy far, far away. “No legacy characters” means a clean slate In a recent comment addressing rumors ahead of the film’s planned 2027 release, Tropper confirmed the decision directly: “I think it’s known that we have no legacy characters. You’re not going to see any of the characters you’ve seen in the other movies.” That’s a significant creative choice, especially in a franchise that has often tied new projects closely to its past. Why this matters for Starfighter In recent years,…
Walt Disney Studios at CinemaCon: Extended Look at The Mandalorian & Grogu Likely — Starfighter Less So
Walt Disney Studios has confirmed its presentation at CinemaCon on April 16, and Star Wars fans are already speculating about what Lucasfilm might reveal at the event. With The Mandalorian & Grogu now less than two months from its theatrical release, an extended look at the movie could be part of the showcase. The presentation comes at a key moment in Disney’s promotional calendar — CinemaCon is one of the first major film industry gatherings of the year, where studios often unveil new footage, extended trailers, and exclusive clips ahead of summer movie season. The Mandalorian & Grogu Is a Big Disney 2026 Release The Mandalorian & Grogu is already one of Lucasfilm’s most anticipated releases, scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 22, 2026. Directed by Jon Favreau and co-written with Dave Filoni, the movie brings the beloved characters from the Disney+ series to the big screen. So far,…
Mia Goth on Star Wars: Starfighter: “It Was Incredible”
There’s a kind of joy that can only come from being part of a big, collaborative movie set — and Mia Goth says Star Wars: Starfighter delivered exactly that. Speaking with Collider about her experience working on the film, Goth didn’t hold back when describing what it was like to step into the Star Wars galaxy. She called it “incredible” and “the most fun on a film set” she’s had — high praise from an actor with a wide range of acclaimed roles. Not just another gig What makes her comments stand out isn’t just enthusiasm — it’s specificity. Goth highlighted director Shawn Levy as a big part of what made the experience special. She described him as “electric,” praising his energy, his connection with the cast and crew, and how that vibe shaped the atmosphere on set. That kind of rapport isn’t always visible to audiences, but it’s often…
Star Wars: Starfighter Is Built Around a Father-Son Dynamic
Early reporting on Star Wars: Starfighter has been tantalizingly cautious—tight-lipped about plot specifics and character details. But one theme director Shawn Levy confirms is central to the story: it’s anchored in a father-son dynamic. That might sound simple on its face, but in a franchise defined by legacy and lineage, this choice resonates in a very Star Wars way. Building a Star Wars story on emotional grounding Levy has a long track record with emotionally centered adventure films, and his past work often circles relationships between adults and younger characters. That sensibility appears to be shaping Starfighter too. In a recent interview connected to his New York Times profile, Levy discussed how moments of intergenerational connection have drawn him back again and again in storytelling. While the full plot is still under wraps, the fact that Starfighter is described as being built around paternal bonds suggests we might see a…
Kathleen Kennedy Pushes Back on the Shawn Levy Narrative
For a franchise that lives under a microscope, who gets hired can matter almost as much as what ends up on screen. That’s why Kathleen Kennedy’s recent comments about Shawn Levy landed with more weight than they might first appear. Levy, now attached to direct an upcoming Star Wars film, has faced familiar criticism: that his background in family-friendly and crowd-pleasing movies somehow makes him a “lightweight” choice. Kennedy doesn’t buy that framing—at all. What Kennedy actually said Speaking to The New York Times, Kennedy addressed the criticism head-on. She noted that Levy’s work in family comedies has been routinely misinterpreted, saying it’s “completely unfair” to treat that genre as creatively shallow. Her reasoning was blunt and revealing: making films that work for broad audiences is hard. Not technically flashy hard, but emotionally precise hard—balancing tone, pacing, humor, and sincerity without losing the audience along the way. That skill, she…
Tom Cruise Visited a Star Wars Set — and Helped Film a Lightsaber Duel
When Tom Cruise shows up on a film set, people assume he’s there to act. That’s not what happened on the set of Star Wars: Starfighter. Cruise visited the production and filmed one of the movie’s lightsaber duels. He did not appear on screen, did not portray a character, and was not acting in the scene. According to The New York Times, his involvement was behind the camera, not in front of it. That distinction matters—and it makes the story more interesting, not less. What actually happened Cruise was present on set during production and took part in filming a lightsaber duel sequence. The reporting is specific: he filmed the scene. There has been no indication of a cameo, a secret role, or any on-screen appearance. Lightsaber duels are among the most technically demanding sequences in a Star Wars production. Camera movement, timing, choreography, and spatial awareness are tightly synchronized….
Shawn Levy Recalls How a Stranger Things Scene Led to His First Contact With Lucasfilm
Careers don’t always intersect with major franchises through formal pitches or long-planned meetings. Sometimes, they cross paths because of a single creative question that needs an answer. For Shawn Levy, that moment came during the making of Season 1 of Stranger Things, years before he became attached to a new Star Wars project. The scene that raised a problem While developing the first season of Stranger Things, the creative team planned a scene in which Eleven uses her telekinetic powers to levitate the Millennium Falcon. It was meant as a brief but recognizable pop-culture reference. That idea immediately ran into a legal and rights issue. Levy explained that Netflix informed the production they would need permission to reference the Millennium Falcon. The response came back quickly—and decisively. The answer was no. The show would need to replace the object with something else. Reaching out directly At that point, Levy had…
Star Wars: Starfighter Has Wrapped Production — And Now the Real Work Begins
Lights, cameras… wrap! 🎬Director Shawn Levy has officially confirmed that principal photography on Star Wars: Starfighter has wrapped, meaning the next major theatrical chapter in the Star Wars saga is now moving into post-production and getting polished for its big debut. With the cameras down and editing underway, fans can now look ahead to Starfighter’s planned release — May 28, 2027 — marking one of the most anticipated theatrical entries in the franchise in years. A Fresh Star Wars Story, Built from Scratch What makes Starfighter particularly interesting isn’t just the wrap announcement — it’s the kind of movie it promises to be. Unlike many recent entries that revisited familiar characters, Starfighter is designed to be a stand-alone adventure. That means new faces, new corners of the galaxy, and a story that isn’t tied directly to past trilogies or sagas. Director Shawn Levy has emphasized that the film isn’t a…
Mia Goth Says She’s Having “An Incredible Time” Filming Star Wars: Starfighter — And Praises Shawn Levy’s “Electric” Energy
The hype around Star Wars: Starfighter just got another boost — this time from one of its stars. During a recent interview, Mia Goth shared glowing praise for director Shawn Levy and described her experience on the film as nothing short of “incredible.” Goth, known for her work in X, Pearl, and MaXXXine, is diving into her first Star Wars project — and according to her, the energy on set is unlike anything she’s experienced before. Mia Goth on Shawn Levy: “He’s Electric” Speaking about her time on the film, Goth didn’t hold back: “Shawn [Levy] has an energy I’ve never met in any other. He’s electric. And it has a trickle-down effect on the rest of the set. He’s so excited. He’s so inspired. And it’s contagious, and everyone else benefits from it.” That’s high praise coming from an actress who has worked with a wide range of visionary…