Only one new Star Wars movie can possibly meet Disney’s new mandate – Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter. The latest reports suggest Disney is seeking to pitch for Generation Z audiences; according to Variety, Disney want movies that appeal to young men, aged 13-28.
The main focus appears to be original movies, rather than existing IP – a notable pivot for the House of Mouse. The last decade or so has seen Lucasfilm focusing on developing existing IP, particularly Star Wars and the MCU, but there have been diminishing returns from this strategy.
Still, that doesn’t mean Disney is writing off the future of their establishes franchises. In fact, the Generation Z pivot explains a mystery that viewers have been puzzling over for quite some time; why has Lucasfilm made a high priority out of Shawn Levy’s Starfighter, an enigmatic project due to begin filming in September?
Only Two Star Wars TV Shows Have Been Targeted At Generation Z
The Star Wars sequel trilogy ended not with a bang, but a whimper; The Rise of Skywalker may have broken $1 billion in the worldwide box office, but it’s generally seen as a disappointing end to the Skywalker saga. Uncertain about the future of their movies, Lucasfilm focused instead on a range of Disney+ TV shows.
The various Star Wars TV shows have generally been successful; The Mandalorian in particular was a trailblazer, and it’s no surprise that Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and the delightful Grogu are making their way to the big screen next year. But third-party data from analytics firms like Parrot Analytics reveals a major problem.
Star Wars has something of a Generation Z problem.
The various Disney+ TV shows have predominantly been aimed at Generation X and millennials. It’s not that the shows haven’t reached Generation Z, but rather that this doesn’t seem to have been Lucasfilm’s target audience. All that changed, however, with two of the latest releases.
Star Wars Hasn’t Had A Great History When It Comes To Reaching Generation Z
Unfortunately, these Generation Z-friendly releases have stumbled. The Acolyte was incredibly controversial, and Leslye Headland’s High Republic TV show became the first Disney Star Wars show to officially be canceled. In truth, The Acolyte‘s budget alone likely justifies the cancellation; it cost $230 million to make, and viewership was far too low to justify a second season.
Jon Watts and Christopher Ford’s Star Wars: Skeleton Crew was much more well-received, thankfully, and it was a joy to watch. Again, though, it didn’t attract stellar viewership; worse still, there are practical issues facing season 2. Ryan Keira Armstrong, one of the leads, has other commitments; she’s the new star of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer relaunch.
Lucasfilm has clearly had some trouble reaching Generation Z. Fortunately, one upcoming Star Wars movie has the potential to correct this.
Only One Star Wars Movie Can Reach Generation Z
Most of the Star Wars TV shows have played the nostalgia card, but both The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew largely eschewed this. That’s the key; rather than appeal to existing viewers, they made a solid attempt at reaching a whole new audience. This helps explain why Lucasfilm is focused on Star Wars: Starfighter, Shawn Levy’s upcoming movie.
It’s long been clear that Starfighter is not your typical Star Wars fare. It’s a standalone set five years after The Rise of Skywalker, starring original characters rather than established names. Even more surprising, though, Starfighter has the kind of star casting we haven’t really seen in Star Wars before.
So far, we know three members of the cast:
- Ryan Gosling, playing the тιтular starfighter pilot
- Matt Smith, the main villain
- Mia Goth, a secondary villain
All three of these actors have a strong Generation Z appeal. Gosling has become an internet sensation, and he’s evolved into a perfect hero for Generation Z; Smith’s versatility has put him squarely on the Generation Z radar; and horror films have become Generation Z’s sweet spot, making Mia Goth a hit.
Levy himself is an established figure in Gen Z entertainment. He’s been involved with shows and movies that blended nostalgia with modern storytelling in the best way (think Stranger Things), and his projects rarely lean into cynicism; they’re centered on hope, connection, and sincerity, with an emotional authenticity that’s aimed straight at Generation Z.
Starfighter‘s announcement came out of the blue, taking many by surprise because the project leapfrogged other corporate priorities for Lucasfilm – including Daisy Ridley’s return as Rey. Viewed through the lens of Disney’s Generation Z pivot, though, it’s easy to see why the studio settled on this; it’s their best chance to hit the Gen Z audience, securing the future of Star Wars.
