Thomas Newman To Compose Score For 'Star Wars: Starfighter'
Image Source: Variety
That galaxy far, far away is about to welcome a new musical talent! It’s officially been announced that acclaimed film composer Thomas Newman will provide the score for the upcoming film Star Wars: Starfighter.
During an interview on On Film… with Kevin McCarthy, Starfighter director Shawn Levy confirmed Newman’s involvement. A self-proclaimed mega fan of the composer, Levy sent Newman the script and presented his vision, and Newman quickly accepted the assignment. Levy also confirmed that Newman’s score won’t be a simple redo of John Williams's works on previous Star Wars films, but will still be inspired by them, with heavy use of themes and leitmotifs.
Despite having worked in the film industry since 1984, Thomas Newman has made a name for himself as one of the greatest film composers of all time since the early 90s. His acclaimed work on films such as Little Women, The Shawshank Redemption, American Beauty, and The Green Mile all quickly cemented his legacy. In the 2000s, Newman lent his talents to many more great films, including Erin Brockovich, Road to Perdition, Finding Nemo, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Cinderella Man, and WALL-E. In the 2010s, notable Newman scores included The Help, Skyfall, Saving Mr. Banks, and 1917. While Newman has slowed down a little in recent years, he recently provided the scores for Elemental and Chris Columbus’s adaptation of The Thursday Murder Club. Newman’s career is notable for his frequent collaborations with directors Sam Mendes, Andrew Stanton, Steven Soderbergh, Frank Darabont, and John Lee Hancock. Thomas Newman has received 15 Academy Award nominations, 14 of which were for Best Original Score. Sadly, Newman has yet to win the award, inheriting the record of the category’s biggest loser from his cousin, Randy. Yes, that Randy Newman. Early in his career, Thomas Newman orchestrated a cue for Return of the Jedi that underscored the scene in which Anakin Skywalker died. As Thomas’ father, Alfred, was a mentor to John Williams, Starfighter is a full-circle moment for the 70-year-old composer.
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Image Source: Vanity Fair
Starfighter is the upcoming 13th live-action installment of the Star Wars Saga. While plot details are scarce, the film has been confirmed to take place five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, making it the first Star Wars film set after the Skywalker Saga. The film has frequently been described as being standalone, featuring new heroes, new villains, new worlds, and now, new music. The film is being directed by Shawn Levy, who remains one of Hollywood’s most in-demand journeyman filmmakers. After making his mark with financially successful family films such as Big Far Liar, Cheaper by the Dozen, Night at the Museum, and Real Steel, Levy has gone on to make larger-scale films in recent years, including Free Guy, The Adam Project, and Deadpool & Wolverine. Shawn Levy has also directed multiple episodes for all 5 seasons of Stranger Things, including the series’s most acclaimed episode, Season 4 Chapter 4: Dear Billy. Levy directed two episodes for the show’s final season. He also produced Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival, which earned Levy an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
Starfighter features a cast of emerging talent and familiar stars, including Academy Award nominee Ryan Gosling, newcomer Flynn Gray, Emmy-nominee Matt Smith, scream queen Mia Goth, Academy Award nominee Amy Adams, and Lanterns star Aaron Pierre. The film is being written by Jonathan Tropper, who co-wrote Levy’s The Adam Project. Claudio Miranda (known for his frequent collaborations with director Joseph Kosinski) is the film’s director of photography.
Star Wars: Starfighter will fly into theaters on May 28th, 2027.
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