Director Shawn Levy has revealed that “Star Wars: Starfighter” will be scored by legendary composer Thomas Newman—and the film will deliberately steer clear of remixing John Williams’ iconic franchise themes.
Newman, the Grammy, Emmy, and BAFTA Award-winning composer behind 15 Academy Award nominations, brings an impressive resume to the galaxy far, far away. His credits include unforgettable scores for “American Beauty,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Erin Brockovich,” Bond films “Skyfall” and “Spectre,” and Pixar classics “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E.”
A Fresh Musical Approach
Speaking on the On Film… with Kevin McCarthy podcast, Levy explained his vision for the film’s sound: “classically inspired” but distinctly separate from the Williams themes that have defined Star Wars for nearly 50 years.
“I was thinking about this movie and what I need the music to be, because it wants to be sort of classically inspired,” Levy said. “But no, it’s not gonna be remixes of Williams cues. It may be inspired by some of that, but I knew that I needed a big-hearted movie score from a composer who, like John Williams, doesn’t shy away from themes.”
The decision makes sense given what we know about “Starfighter”: it’s a standalone film set in an entirely new era, five years after “Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker,” focusing on new characters with no direct connection to the Skywalker Saga.
“So, I called up Tom Newman… and I said, ‘Hey, it’s Shawn Levy. Would you ever consider—?’ And he said, ‘Send me the script, and describe your vision.’ And I did both those things, and it was yes. And I’m so stoked… I’m so excited about it.”
A New Chapter in Star Wars Storytelling
“Starfighter” centers on a new character played by Ryan Gosling and his teenage nephew, portrayed by young actor Flynn Gray. Former Doctor Who Matt Smith and “Frankenstein” star Mia Goth play the film’s antagonists, while “The Inbetweeners” actor Simon Bird rounds out the cast.
“This is a standalone. It’s not a prequel, not a sequel,” Levy said at Star Wars Celebration 2025 in April. “It’s a new adventure. It’s set in a period of time that we haven’t seen explored yet.”
Glimpses From the Set
Filming began in August, and Levy has since shared tantalizing images from production. The first showed Gosling and Gray sitting on a vehicle resembling a landspeeder—the iconic transport from 1977’s “A New Hope.” A follow-up image revealed the duo floating on some kind of sci-fi raft, hinting at the film’s action set pieces.
Why This Matters
The decision to avoid Williams’ themes is bold but appropriate. While those musical motifs—the triumphant main theme, the Imperial March, the Force theme—are deeply embedded in Star Wars’ DNA, relying on them for every project risks making the galaxy feel smaller rather than expanding it.
Newman’s approach suggests “Starfighter” will establish its own musical identity while maintaining the classical, orchestral grandeur that defines Star Wars soundtracks. It’s a balance that could help the film feel both familiar and fresh—part of the Star Wars universe while telling a truly new story.
