The Business Shawn Levy talks ‘Stranger Things,’ ‘Star Wars,’ & studio shakeups
Nov 21, 2025
Shawn Levy, a filmmaker known for his work on Stranger Things and Deadpool, shares insights from the set of his upcoming Star Wars film. He discusses the bittersweet nature of the industry's current contraction, while detailing Netflix's decision for a limited theatrical release of the Stranger Things finale. Levy highlights the familial atmosphere on set and the cinematic quality of the show. He also reflects on his creative freedom with Starfighter, the evolution of Deadpool and Wolverine, and the success of standalone films like Free Guy.
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Focus On Perfecting One Project
- Do one project at a time and make it as perfect as you can.
- Avoid pitching something as a franchise before you prove the first project works.
Unusual Directing Split On Final Season
- Shawn Levy normally directs episodes three and four each Stranger Things season.
- On season five he directed episode six and co-directed episode seven with the Duffer brothers due to scheduling conflicts.
TV Episode Released Like A Film
- The final Stranger Things episode is cinematic and over two hours long, so Netflix gave it a limited theatrical run.
- Levy believes the finale deserves the richest global presentation despite being an episode, not a conventional movie.