In November 2022 it was revealed that Shawn Levy, the director behind films such as Free Guy and Night at the Museum, was developing an untitled Star Wars film for Lucasfilm and Disney.
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Since 2022 we’ve had very minor updates on Levy’s project, the director said that Lucasfilm president, Kathleen Kennedy, wanted a ‘Shawn Levy’ movie, which consists of heart, wish fulfilment, and levity. That’s not much insight into what to expect, though Jeff Sneider previously reported that Levy’s effort could feature Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker, though the film is separate from the Ridley led flick being developed by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Ms. Marvel).
Getting little to no updates on Levy’s Star Wars film in the years since its announcement should not come as a shock given how busy the director has been. Since the announcement, Levy directed three episodes of the Netflix series All the Light We Cannot See, the upcoming Deadpool and Wolverine film for Marvel Studios that’s due to release next month, and episodes of the upcoming final season of the smash Netflix series, Stranger Things.
Levy is currently in the midst of promoting Deadpool and Wolverine, the third film in the Deadpool film series and first as part of Marvel Studios, which arrives in cinemas on July 26th. Naturally, as part of the promotional tour, Levy was asked about his previously announced Star Wars flick by Deadline’s Behind the Lens. Levy revealed that development on the film was “slow-going” and that he’d love to make the movie one day. Levy revealed that one of the reasons that development was movie slowly was due to the amount of mythology in the franchise and the various other projects being made, though Levy concluded his answer by telling the outlet that we was still have exciting conversations with both Kathleen Kennedy, and Lucasfilm’s Chief Creative Officer, Dave Filoni. You can read Levy’s quote below.
“I am still developing my Star Wars movie and I would love to make it someday. I have an idea I’m excited about. Development is slow-going and developing something with that amount of mythology scaffolding, it takes time. You’ve got to be aware of, ‘okay, well wait, what are they doing over here? What’s that group doing over here, right? Because they [Lucasfilm] have television, they have films. But some really exciting conversations with Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni and the group over at Lucasfilm.”
It’s evident that Levy’s Star Wars flick is very, very far away from release and is still in its embryonic stage of development, two years on from when development was announced. As mentioned, this is most likely due to the number of projects Levy has been part of over the past two and a half years. Development is also likely dependent on the Obaid-Chinoy film too, if the Sneider report from earlier in the year can be believed. Development on the Rey film from Obaid-Chinoy has not gone as smoothly as Lucasfilm likely would’ve hoped. The Rey film was originally being written by Damon Lindelof (Watchmen) and Justin Brit-Gibson (Into the Badlands), with development starting as early as 2021, before Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) took over writing duties in the Spring of 2023. Rey Skywalker actress, Daisy Ridley, is still yet to read a draft of the script 14 months on from when the movie was officially announced.
Lucasfilm have their hands full with film development. The Mandalorian and Grogu, a follow-up film to the hit Disney+ series, The Mandalorian, is due to begin production imminently and is slated to release in May 2026. As mentioned, development on the Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Rey Skywalker film has been ongoing for quite a while, and was believed to be aiming to release in December 2026 (previously May 2026). James Mangold, the director behind Logan and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, is also writing a Star Wars movie, Dawn of the Jedi (working title) alongside Andor’s Beau Willimon. Dave Filoni, the creator of Ahsoka and Star Wars: Rebels is set to pen and direct a crossover event film featuring characters from series he’s executive producer such as The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew. Donald and Stephen Glover currently writing a Lando Calrissian film aptly titled, Lando, which would see Donald Glover also star, reprising the role of the titular character. Taika Waititi, who was announced to be developing a Star Wars movie in 2020, is currently taking a break from development on the project, though it’s believed development with eventually resume. The Rian Johnson trilogy announced in 2017 is still on the cards according to Johnson and Lucasfilm, though the issue has been scheduling.
It’s also worth mentioning that Shawn Levy has been in discussions with Marvel Studios and Disney regarding the director helming the next Avengers movie, which is currently slated to release on May 1st, 2026 – the same month as The Mandalorian and Grogu. Disney and Marvel are believed to be happy with Levy’s work on Deadpool and Wolverine and would like the director to helm Marvel Studios’ biggest release since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Despite Avengers 5 currently being slated for a May 2026 release, many believe the film will likely suffer a delay, possibly into May 2027, where a 6th Avengers film is slated to release.
Either way, if this Shawn Levy directed Star Wars film happens, it’s likely many, many years away from release.
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