Star Wars Loyalists, Brace Yourselves: Shawn Levy Confirms No Prequel or Sequel Connections

Star Wars is about to try something it has barely attempted on the big screen in decades: cut the Skywalker cord. Director Shawn Levy says his movie, 'Star Wars: Starfighter', will stand on its own. No prequel baggage, no sequel homework, no legacy characters steering the plot. Some fans will cheer. Some will absolutely not.

So what is Levy actually making?

Levy, fresh off 'Deadpool & Wolverine', confirmed that 'Starfighter' is a one-and-done adventure set roughly five years after 'The Rise of Skywalker'. Timeline-wise, it lives in the same era, but story-wise, he wants a clean slate with new faces and their own problems.

'I don't want to do a Star Wars film that is redundant to others. Nor am I interested in doing one that has to serve another movie.'

That line came during a chat with Josh Horowitz, and it tracks with what Lucasfilm is signaling. Kathleen Kennedy told Empire that some sequel trilogy characters could pop up again down the road, but they would not be the main event here. Translation: expect a true entry point, maybe with a cameo safety net.

The big swing (and why it will rile people up)

Every theatrical Star Wars since 1977 has either explained how Anakin became Vader or chased the fallout of that family saga. 'Starfighter' is Levy saying: enough. He wants the adventurous spark of 'A New Hope' without the constant callback loop. That could be refreshing for anyone who does not want to memorize 40+ years of lore to enjoy a movie. It could also frustrate fans who live for crossovers, Easter eggs, and the giant continuity web that ties 'Clone Wars' to 'The Mandalorian' and everything in between.

Who is in it and when do we see it?

• Title: Star Wars: Starfighter
• Release date: May 28, 2027
• Director: Shawn Levy (also producing via 21 Laps Entertainment, alongside Lucasfilm)
• Setting: about five years after 'The Rise of Skywalker'
• Type: Standalone movie, not a prequel or a sequel
• Lead: Ryan Gosling
• Also in the cast: Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Amy Adams
• Screenwriter: Jonathan Tropper
• Cinematographer: Claudio Miranda ('Life of Pi', 'Top Gun: Maverick')

What it might feel like

Levy has pulled in Claudio Miranda to go big and glossy, the kind of sweeping, clear-eyed imagery that sells old-school adventure. The target is that classic 'strange new planet, scrappy heroes, lived-in ships' vibe without just reheating the same myth beats. Bold? Absolutely. Risky? Also yes.

If you want to catch up or rewatch the saga while we wait, the movies and shows are on Disney+. You can also get Disney+ through the Disney+, Hulu, and Max bundle that Hulu offers as an upgrade.