Director Shawn Levy has revealed that his upcoming film in the Star Wars universe, titled Star Wars: Starfighter, is deeply inspired by Return of the Jedi. This new film, set in an unexplored era of the Star Wars universe, promises to offer a story less tied to the Skywalker Saga, which could re-engage those fans who feel disconnected from the franchise. A film that embraces the classics Levy, known for his work in acclaimed films and series, has expressed his appreciation for Return of the Jedi, highlighting its combination of themes, lightness, adventure, heart […]
Director Shawn Levy has revealed that his upcoming film in the Star Wars universe, titled Star Wars: Starfighter, is deeply inspired by Return of the Jedi. This new film, set in a yet unexplored era of the Star Wars universe, promises to offer a story less tied to the Skywalker Saga, which could re-engage those fans who feel disconnected from the franchise.
A movie that embraces the classics
Levy, known for his work in acclaimed films and series, has expressed his appreciation for Return of the Jedi, highlighting its combination of themes, lightness, adventure, heart, and spectacle. Although this film is considered by many to be a classic within the saga, its reception was divisive among adults of the time, particularly due to the inclusion of the Ewoks, which generated mixed opinions. However, Levy firmly positions himself in the group that appreciates the film, stating that it resonated greatly with him during his childhood.
In an appearance on the podcast On Film… With Kevin McCarthy, Levy shared: “The ‘cool’ answer would be to say I’m more inspired by The Empire, and the undeniable answer would be that it’s A New Hope, but in reality, it’s Jedi”. This comment reflects his personal connection to the film, a bond he feels while on the set of “Starfighter”.
Star Wars: Starfighter is currently in production and is expected to premiere on May 28, 2027. Fans can look forward to a fresh approach within the vast lore of Star Wars. Meanwhile, interest continues to grow for the upcoming projects in the franchise, which will include new movies and series.
When Return of the Jedi premiered in theaters in 1983, many didn’t even know if there would be more Star Wars. No matter how much it was announced as “Episode VI,” many felt it was the definitive end of the trilogy, leaving a small void in the hearts of fans that would be filled over the years with an increasingly crazy and diverse Expanded Universe. Novels, comics, video games, and even role-playing games took the alternative of a saga that took 16 years to return. Along the way, in that long […]
When Return of the Jedi premiered in theaters in 1983, many didn’t even know if there would be more Star Wars. No matter how much it was announced as “Episode VI,” many felt it was the definitive end of the trilogy, leaving a small void in the hearts of fans that would be filled, over the years, with an increasingly crazy and diverse Expanded Universe. Novels, comics, video games, and even role-playing games took the alternative of a saga that took 16 years to return. Along the way, in that long journey through the desert, they only had two animated series (Ewoks and Droids) and a couple of movies that now, under Disney’s full control, everyone pretends never existed.
Some time ago, dancing on a more or less nearby planet…
On November 25, 1984, a year and a half after leaving fans with nothing to hold on to, NBC premiered The Ewok Adventure, a spin-off that could take place at any time in the saga. In fact, although at the time it was one of the few things that fans could enjoy, George Lucas eventually considered it not necessarily canon (nor the opposite, it simply does not affect the main saga). And the fact is that the patriarch of the saga himself created the story for the movie to ensure it met certain quality standards and thus avoid another disaster like the Star Wars Holiday Special, the infamous disaster of 1978.
In fact, what Lucas secretly wanted was to make a Star Wars movie for his young daughter, Amanda, who was a big fan of the ewoks. It was such a crazy idea that all the television networks refused except NBC, on the condition that it was very cheap and filled two hours of programming. Ah, art…! Although the movie is nothing out of this world and there are fans who consider it one of the worst products ever associated with the franchise (they’re not wrong, to be fair), at the time it was NBC’s second most-watched movie of the year and it even premiered in theaters in Europe. Faced with the possibility of scraping together a few dollars, who could resist?
Obviously, since the thing was a hit and the merchandising flew off the shelves again, the following year they tried to repeat the success with The Battle for the Planet of the Ewoks, which aired this time on ABC on November 24, 1985. The special took place right after the first part, this time fighting against the intruders trying to invade their planet and with the help of the orphan girl from the previous movie. Once again, Lucas wrote the story based on, none other than, Heidi. In just two meetings of four hours each, they already had the movie planned. Compare that to the current mess at Disney! In return, of course, they cost a pittance compared to today’s complex productions.
The sequel was released in theaters, but it had such low box office numbers that no one talks about it, and over time they decided to forget about it. In fact, Disney announced that neither of the two movies would come to Disney+… until public pressure forced them to put them on the streaming service. However, we know nothing about the Holiday Special, and it remains officially lost (not unofficially, however, not so much). It’s possible that you have never heard of these two Ewok movies: they have neither been referenced, nor have they had any significance in the Expanded Universe, and in the modern era, no one seems to want to talk about them. And maybe that’s exactly why it’s time to watch them! Or don’t you want to complete the full puzzle of a galaxy far, far away? At the very least, I can assure you that they are better than Obi-Wan Kenobi. Something is something.
