Last November, we got word that Shawn Levy (Real Steel, The Adam Project Stranger Things) was in line to direct a new Star Wars movie for Lucasfilm. No other details were revealed at the time and updates have been few and far between since, but the filmmaker has now confirmed that the project is still in development.
During an interview with Variety, Levy said that he's planning to start working on the film shortly after he finishes production on Deadpool 3, but the Hollywood strikes have slowed progress considerably.
Levy remained tight-kipped when it came to plot details, but he did note that Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy made it clear that he would have the creative freedom to make the kind of Star Wars movie he wanted.
"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.' So I have felt extremely empowered. We are in 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."
One rumor that did the rounds earlier this year claimed that Levy's film would feature Adam Driver's Ben Solo, aka Kylo Ren, either in a prequel to the most recent trilogy or a story set afterwards (Ben died at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, but it wouldn't be the first time we saw a supposedly deceased character return in the galaxy far, far away).
Nobody really put much stock in the rumor at the time, but when quizzed about it, Levy didn't debunk anything!
"As you know Adam is a buddy, and I’ve always been a huge fan of Kylo Ren. But no comment."
Levy was also asked if Deadpool 3 has been "good practice" for Star Wars, and the director responded by saying both his MCU threequel and mysterious Star Wars project are progressing exactly as he envisioned.
"The experience that I’m currently having with Marvel on Deadpool is showing me first-hand 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. 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."
Expect updates on both projects shortly after the SAG-AFTRA strike comes to an end.