Here’s the classic STAR WARS movie which is the tonal blueprint for Shawn Levy’s STARFIGHTER

Director Shawn Levy has been making the promotional rounds ahead of the long-awaited final season of Stranger things, or at least the first part of it. Levy, who serves as an executive producer on the series, has directed episodes every season, including two in the batch that debuted last night.

But as big as the Stranger Things Finally, there’s an equally exciting project on Levy’s horizon: his next Star Wars film.

Levy has previously hinted that the film won’t simply echo what came before.

Instead, he aims for something new, unexpected and entirely his own in the galaxy far, far away.

As such, Levy answered questions about Star Wars: Starfighter and admitted that although the film seeks originalityit has a similar tone to one of the films in the original trilogy.

Appearing on the On Film…With Kevin McCarthy podcast, Levy said: “Let me tell you something. People – I didn’t say it out loud because everyone is wondering, “Which movie Star Wars Starfighter is most like?” What inspires you the most? » If I’m honest – I know the correct answer would be Empire, and the indisputable answer would be A New Hope – but that’s a bit [Return of the] Jedi“.

“It’s Jedi because of the combination of theme, lightness, adventure, heart, and spectacle. Somehow this movie is perfect for me. And I’ve seen this movie so many times in theaters, more times in theaters than New Hope and Empire, and it left an impression on me. I’ll tell you… there are times when I’m on set, and I feel like this kid is with me, in the director’s chair. As if I was there to make his dream come true.“

The Star Wars discussion begins at [03:30 minute] score in the video below.

Star Wars: Starfighter features a cast including Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings and Amy Adams.

Levy directs from a screenplay written by Trooper. Filming began on August 28, 2025, and the film’s current release date is May 28, 2027.

Gosling will reportedly play a former X-wing pilot who must protect his Force-sensitive nephew when he becomes a target for dark side users/remnants of the First Order.

The film is said to be a chase/adventure style story in which Gosling races to get his nephew to Rey’s new Jedi Order Academy while being pursued by powerful forces.