Shawn Levy Will Helm Netflix’s Next Big Bet Somewhere Out There

Shawn Levy is apparently on a hot streak these days, juggling both massive blockbusters and Netflix hits like it’s just another Tuesday. If you’ve been following his career (or, honestly, just watching whatever random thing shows up in your Netflix queue), you know he’s everywhere right now—and he’s no stranger to sci-fi, big stars, or surprising success stories.

Star Wars... and Then Some

So, first up, Levy has locked in a pretty intimidating gig: directing Star Wars: Starfighter, which—deep breath—will be the thirteenth Star Wars film. Disney’s got it marked for release in 2027. That means he’ll follow up his work on the crowd-pleasing Night at the Museum movies (yep, all three) and last year’s Deadpool & Wolverine (a title that basically prints money; by the way, it’s now the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever).

If that wasn’t enough pressure, Starfighter is already stirring up chatter over its cast: Ryan Gosling is attached (bring on the memes), plus Flynn Grey, Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre, and Matt Smith. Basically, it’s stacked.

Levy + Netflix: If It Ain't Broke...

Levy’s not just playing in the theatrical sandbox. When he’s not busy prepping lightsabers, he’s all in with Netflix. He directed and produced The Adam Project (the one with Ryan Reynolds and time travel—yep, that one your parents probably loved), and he’s a key producer and director for Stranger Things. In short, Netflix likes Levy, and Levy likes Netflix right back.

Reuniting for a New Sci-Fi Flick

Now, Netflix is doubling down on Levy with a brand new original sci-fi movie called Somewhere Out There. The project was just announced in The Hollywood Reporter, so things are still pretty hush-hush, but here’s what we know:

• Levy is directing and producing (of course) through his 21 Laps company.
• Dan Levine from Netflix is also producing.
• The script comes from Max Taxe.
• The story? It’s being compared to Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival (so, actual brainy sci-fi), plus it apparently has echoes of The Adam Project. The plot centers on a father mourning his wife, who sends a message out into space—and someone (or something) out there answers back.
• They’re reportedly circling some big names for the lead role, but nothing has leaked yet—so cue the speculation machine.

And just to lower your hopes of sneaking into some behind-the-scenes scoop: no word yet on when filming starts, who’s starring, or when we’ll actually see it drop on Netflix. So don’t hold your breath for a trailer just yet.

Why This One Might Actually Work

If you’re wondering why Netflix keeps betting on Levy for its original movies, well, just look at the track record—Stranger Things is a monster hit, and The Adam Project scored with both critics and, more importantly to Netflix, with lots of streams. Levy basically lives in the world of ‘big idea, mainstream-friendly’ stuff, especially in sci-fi (and let’s not forget Deadpool & Wolverine’s absurd success).

The new pitch for Somewhere Out There is already getting the ‘next Arrival’ comparisons, which is a bold claim—or a potential recipe for fan arguments three years from now, depending on how seriously you take this kind of thing. Still, throw in Levy’s track record plus a script that’s supposed to blend heart, sci-fi, and spectacle, and you can see why Netflix keeps letting him take big swings.

To sum it up: Shawn Levy is in high demand, both on the big screen and the streaming side. Star Wars is next for him, but Somewhere Out There is lining up to be another of those ‘pay attention, this could be huge or it could just be Netflix content fodder’ moments.

Or, in actual Hollywood-speak (Levy’s not quoted often, but here’s what the current coverage is all hinting at):
'Netflix keeps betting on Levy for a reason—and his next sci-fi movie might be his most ambitious yet.'