As you’re probably aware, “Star Wars” and Lucasfilm are at an inflection point. Having pivoted towards streaming for several years, “The Mandalorian,” etc., “Star Wars” Celebration earlier this year indicated that the new future would return to cinemas, announcing three “Star Wars” movies by Dave Filoni, one formerly from Damon Lindelof that will include Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker, and a prequel set in ancient Jedi times from filmmaker James Mangold. But as we know, Lucasfilm is still iterating on future ideas from filmmakers like Taika Waititi, Donald Glover, and Shawn Levy.
Levy, who is out promoting his new Netflix series, “All The Light We Cannot See,” which hits the streaming service on November 2, has already arguably hit the franchise jackpot. He’s currently directing “Deadpool 3” with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman for Marvel, and he’s already been tapped to direct a “Star Wars” movie, which could come sometime after that.
What’s it like? Obviously, it’s too early in the development phase for Levy to say. Still, in a new Variety interview, Levy suggested that Lucasfilm and Kathleen Kennedy have hired him for a good reason: they like his taste and sensibilities and want him to bring that to “Star Wars.”
“When Kathy Kennedy brought me on board to make a “Star Wars” movie, her central mandate to me was “I want a Shawn Levy movie. I want a story and a tone that reflects you and your taste and what you bring to your movies — with a ‘Star Wars’ story,” he explained. “So I have felt extremely empowered. We are in the early days, unfortunately, because the development process was abruptly paused [due to the WGA strike], but I feel very empowered to trust my instincts in the development of this story and movie.”
Levy’s made some big movies before, but this is the first time he’s playing, possibly back-to-back, with arguably the two biggest intellectual properties in the world right now. What is his voice, taste, and vision exactly? Well, while he’s moved towards more irreverent material in “Free Guy” and “Deadpool 3,” Levy’s films tend to skew more feel-good, 4-quadrant appeal with strong comedic instincts (“The Adam Project” “Night Of The Museum” “Real Steel”) and maybe that’s what Lucasfilm is really looking to tap into.
And Levy suggests the rules and boundaries of franchises are not burdening him but rather feeling like he can take the material and do what he wants with it.
“The experience that I’m currently having with Marvel on ‘Deadpool”’ is showing me firsthand that it is indeed really possible to feel empowered and personal about making a movie within a universe that is bigger than any one film,” he said. My ‘Deadpool’ movie is turning out to be exactly what Ryan [Reynolds] and I had hoped when we started off. So I’m going into the development of my ‘Star Wars’ movie with a similar optimism and faith that my instincts will be allowed to lead the way.”
Asked point blank if his film could be a ‘Force Awakens’ prequel that covers the earlier days of Kylo Ren, Levy wouldn’t comment but wouldn’t shut down the posit either (which leads one to wonder if the reporter has heard something we all haven’t.
“Your words, not mine!” he protested. “As you know, Adam [Driver] is a buddy, and I’ve always been a huge fan of Kylo Ren. But no comment.” File under interesting for now. Either way, if three “Star Wars” movies are already on deck for roughly 2025, 2027, and 2029, it’s anyone’s guess when Levy’s film could land—if it gets out of the development stage and approved to go forward anyhow.
