Image credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
While Shawn Levy’s much-awaited Star Wars: Starfighter will seek to take a fresh approach to the franchise with new characters, there is still an original trilogy film that inspired his upcoming movie. In a recent interview, the Deadpool & Wolverine director opened up about the original trilogy film that somewhat served as a blueprint for his take on the Star Wars franchise.

Shawn Levy says his Starfighter film is ‘most like’ Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

During his recent appearance on the On Film… With Kevin McCarthy podcast, Shawn Levy stated that Starfighter is “most inspired” by Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.

“Let me tell you something. People – I’ve not said this out loud because everyone’s like ‘Which Star Wars movie is Starfighter the most like? Which is the most inspired by?’ If I’m being honest – I know the cool answer would be Empire, and sort of the inarguable answer would be A New Hope – but it’s kinda Jedi,” the 57-year-old filmmaker explained.

Levy then elaborated on the reasoning behind his statement, saying, “It’s Jedi because of the combination of theme, levity, adventure, heart, spectacle. Somehow, that movie just got it right for me.”

He also disclosed his personal connection with Return of the Jedi in the interview, adding, “And I saw that movie so many times in a theater, more times in a theater than New Hope and Empire, and it stuck with me. I will tell you… There’s moments where I’m on set, and I feel like that kid is with me, in the director’s chair. Like I’m there making his dream come true.”

Led by Ryan Gosling, Star Wars: Starfighter takes place five years after the events of 2019’s Rise of Skywalker. Alongside Gosling, the movie also stars Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams in key roles. The film is currently on track to hit theaters on May 28, 2027.