Shawn Levy Taps Thomas Newman for Star Wars: Starfighter as Reworked Third Act Films

Overview

• Levy confirmed on the On Film…With Kevin McCarthy podcast that 15-time Oscar nominee Thomas Newman will compose the score.
• The director emphasized a fresh musical identity that favors big, memorable themes rather than remixes of John Williams’ cues, placing Newman among the few non-Williams composers to score a Star Wars project.
• Levy revealed the original third act was scrapped and rebuilt and said he is currently shooting the new ending, which he believes is stronger.
• He identified Return of the Jedi’s blend of levity, heart, adventure, and spectacle as the tonal blueprint for this standalone film.
• Principal photography began August 28 with shoots in the UK and Italy, briefly paused in November, and continues with a cast led by Ryan Gosling alongside Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams; Jonathan Tropper wrote the script set about five years after The Rise of Skywalker.