Shawn Levy Draws Parallels Between Star Wars: Starfighter and Stranger Things

Shawn Levy, best known for his work on Deadpool and Wolverine, is preparing to take audiences on a new intergalactic journey. His next directorial venture, Star Wars: Starfighter, is already drawing comparisons to Stranger Things, another project where Levy’s touch has been unmistakable. The director recently reflected on the challenges and lessons learned from working within such high-profile universes.

“If I’ve learned anything on Stranger Things, it’s that you can get intimidated by the scale of franchise expectation,”

Levy remarked, sharing his thoughts on navigating the pressures that come with beloved franchises.

“But you will lose your way if that’s your focus. I’ve learned the need to stay rooted in character, and themes and relationships on screen. Yes, there’s spectacle and scale, just like Stranger Things. And of course, Star Wars and Starfighter has spectacle and scale and adventure at a level I’ve never done in my whole career.”

Epic Scale Meets Intimate Storytelling

Levy’s approach to Starfighter appears to hinge on balancing the grand with the personal. He’s keen to ensure that, despite the vastness of the Star Wars universe, the story remains grounded in the experiences of its characters.

“But like Stranger Things, it’s also very much anchored in a human-scale character-sized story,”

he explained.

“I think that if I can balance the epic and the intimate the way the Duffers have with Stranger Things, I’ll make a film and an original and new Star Wars adventure that can be really satisfying to fans and audiences.”

Starfighter is set to feature Ryan Gosling in the lead, with a supporting cast that includes Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Amy Adams, Adam Pierre, and Flynn Gray. Levy has emphasised that this isn’t a continuation or a prequel, but rather a fresh narrative with entirely new faces and a timeline distinct from previous entries.

New Faces, New Timeline

Levy has been clear about his intentions for the project.

“It is different in that it is an all-new non-sequel, non-prequel adventure,”

he’s said.

“It’s new characters, it’s a new timeline. It inherits legacy themes, but it’s really trying to give Star Wars [fans] – and just film audiences – something fresh, something new. And with a spirit of play and big-hearted adventure with moments of real levity that, frankly, A New Hope had in a revolutionary way.”

This sense of playfulness and warmth, reminiscent of the original Star Wars, is something Levy hopes to recapture. He’s aiming for a tone that’s both adventurous and light on its feet, with the kind of humour and heart that made the franchise a cultural touchstone in the first place.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Meanwhile, Stranger Things has recently wrapped up its run, with the fifth series bringing the story to a close. Fans can now reflect on the journey of the Hawkins crew, while also looking ahead to what Levy will bring to the Star Wars universe. For those eager to keep up with the latest developments in the galaxy far, far away, there’s plenty on the horizon, with new films and series in the pipeline.