Tom Cruise Directed A Lightsaber Fight In The Upcoming Ryan Gosling Star Wars Movie

ICYMI, Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) is directing "Star Wars: Starfighter" starring Ryan Gosling, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre and more. 

In a rebuilding galaxy, a solitary pilot becomes entangled in a crucial mission as new threats emerge. Their journey may alter the future of the Force itself.

A term that has gained popularity (to the point of now being annoying) is "slop". But it's become popular because thats what the media and entertainment landscape has become. Less driven by artistic ideas and more so by whatever the safest way to jangle some keys in front of an audience that studios deem too stupid to risk trying something new on. I'd actually credit the sequel trilogy of Star Wars for being a pioneer in this regard. 'The Last Jedi' took risks. Not everybody loved them, but whatever. 'The Rise of Skywalker', however, was one of the worst examples of oversteering I've seen a franchise make in an attempt ot "course correct". Instead of any attempt at making an interesting entertainment product, the movie jammed as much nostalgia, key jangling SLOP as humanly possible. In what felt like an almost singular effort to not offend anybody, they ended up being borderline offensive. 

So one of my worries when hearing that Shawn Levy was taking over a star was project was simply are we going to get more of the same? Because that is what Levy does. Inoffensive, safe, moviemaking. And I think there are two ways to look at that. In a way, it's perfect. This is a franchise meant for little kids and that is exactly who Levy appeals to with his work. He makes it a point of pride in the NYT article this comes from to say how studios hire him for his efficiency, not his artistry. But that is part of what worries me as someone who will obviously be an adult watching this. A very selfish "what's in it for me?".

News like this is something that certainly gets my hopes up. The fact that Cruise likes Levy enough to fly over to the set and pop by is good enough. But Levy then allowing Cruise to shoot a lightsaber fight? That's just great stuff. 

And maybe that's just the stupid kid brain in me, but that's enough to hold me over.