Director Shawn Levy is using the 1979 film "The Outsiders" and car-culture as primary influences for the upcoming movie "Star Wars: Starfighter" [1, 3].
The project represents a shift in tone for the franchise by focusing on social and economic divides rather than traditional galactic warfare. By centering the narrative on working-class heroes, Levy aims to introduce a grittier atmosphere to the established universe [1, 5].
Ryan Gosling stars as the lead in a story that takes place in a lawless sector of the galaxy [1, 2, 4]. Levy said he wanted to capture the spirit of those who exist on the fringes of society, a theme mirrored in the class struggles of "The Outsiders" [1, 3].
This new entry is set five years after the events of "The Rise of Skywalker" [6]. The timeline allows the story to explore the vacuum of power and the instability of a galaxy without a centralized authority [3, 4].
Beyond the cinematic influences, the director integrated elements of car-culture into the film's aesthetic and pacing [1, 5]. This approach is intended to ground the fantastical elements of the series in a more relatable, blue-collar reality [1].
"Star Wars: Starfighter" is slated to open in theaters worldwide next summer [7].
“The story takes place in a lawless sector of the Star Wars galaxy.”
By pivoting away from the dynastic struggles of the Skywalker family and focusing on a 'working-class' perspective, Lucasfilm is attempting to broaden the appeal of the franchise. The influence of 'The Outsiders' suggests a character-driven drama that prioritizes socioeconomic tension over epic space battles, potentially signaling a new era of grounded storytelling for the series.
