It seems that Shawn Levy is the next famous face in Hollywood to direct a Star Wars film!
On Tuesday, the news was released that Levy is in talks to create a new Star Wars movie after he finishes directing Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in “Deadpool 3.”
Shawn Levy To Create His Own ‘Star Wars’ Film After He Finishes Up ‘Deadpool 3’
In addition to his work on “Deadpool 3,” sources told Deadline that he’ll also have to finish up directing a few episodes of the final season of “Stranger Things” before he seriously contemplates the nature of his “Star Wars” movie.
It’s not a surprise that Disney picked Shawn Levy to create his own Star Wars film. Levy has already created two successful movies for the franchise: “Free Guy,” which also starred Ryan Reynolds, and “The Adam Project,” which also starred Reynolds.
In a March 2022 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Levy actually talked about all of the Star Wars easter eggs that he incorporated into the film.
In the movie, Reynolds’s character is a pilot from the year 2050 who travels back in time to meet his younger self. He then runs into his wife, who is played by Zoe Saldana. As they’re escaping through a heavily wooded area, they are being pursued by armored soldiers that look like Stormtroopers.
The scene actually pays homage to 1983’s “Return of the Jedi” and the chase through the wooded planet of Endor. During a conversation with the cast of “The Adam Project,” Levy recalled “being so wowed by that sequence through the woods [in Star Wars], and we had this chase scene. It was supposed to be just a truck and a spaceship, and it wasn’t interesting enough.”
That was when the film’s stunt coordinator found a YouTube clip of guys riding what he called “hoverboards surfboards at high speed.”
“I said, ‘Can we actually do that for real?’” Levy recalled. “And we did.”
Levy also discussed the “electric staff” weapon that looked very much like a lightsaber. “There’s a mixture of spectacle and fantasy and comedy and, above all, heart,” Levy said of the film. “I was in Los Angeles with Ryan a couple of weeks ago finishing the movie, and when the movie ended, I said, ‘This is exactly the movie I’ve been waiting to make.'”
“Something that takes all of those influences and all those sensibilities and is just about audience delight and, hopefully, human connection,” Levy added. “It’s probably been as satisfying an experience I’ve ever had.”
Damon Lindelof Is Also Creating His Own ‘Star Wars’ Movie!
As The Blast previously reported, “The Leftovers” creator Damon Lindelof is also getting a chance to create his own Star Wars movie. Although no details have been revealed about Levy’s Star Wars movie, Lindelof’s movie is set to take place after the events of 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker,” which was the last Star Wars movie to hit theaters.
The controversial film also wrapped up the nine-episode Skywalker Saga and seemed to bring the story of the Skywalker family to a close. It’s unclear if characters from the Star Wars sequel trilogy will make a return, such as Daisy Ridley‘s Rey, John Boyega‘s Finn, Oscar Isaac‘s Poe Dameron, or even Adam Driver‘s redeemed Ben Solo in the form of a Force Ghost.
Right now, most details about the film are being kept under wraps. Lindelof has been creating the script with Justin Britt-Gibson, who worked as an executive story editor on Guillermo del Toro’s vampire series, “The Strain.” “Ms. Marvel” filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy has already been tapped to direct the film.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the movie came about after a secret writer’s room in July that took place after the annual Star Wars Celebration event in Anaheim, California.
Although no more details about the film will be released, fans are still wondering about the status of “The Last Jedi” director Rian Johnson‘s movie trilogy, which has been placed on the back burner so he can focus on his “Knives Out” sequel and subsequent films for Netflix.
“Wonder Woman” creator Patty Jenkins‘ film “Rogue Squadron” has also hit delays and has been taken off the Disney production schedule as she focuses on “Wonder Woman 3.” Taika Waititi also admitted that while he wants his Star Wars film to focus on new characters, he hasn’t started writing it yet.
Fortunately, Star Wars fans still have several Disney+ series to look forward to. The next season of “The Mandalorian” hits the streaming service in February and will be followed up with “Ahsoka” and “The Acolyte,” which is currently filming in the U.K.
As for right now, season 1 of “Andor” is currently releasing new episodes on Disney+ each Wednesday. Season 2 is expected to start filming this month, with a tentative release date of 2024.
