Shawn Levy, the director of Marvel’s upcoming Deadpool 3, revealed that a pivotal scene in the upcoming superhero film was based on Star Wars: Episode VI, Return of the Jedi.

In a story published by Esquire, Levy went on to recall watching Return of the Jedi in theaters, and because of this, he wanted to pay homage to the film.

“I vividly remember the scene in which Luke is hiding from Vader in the Emperor’s room, and Vader gives the speech that ends with ‘If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps your sister will,'” Levy said. “It was dead quiet [in the theater]. Pin-drop silence. Suddenly, Vader has pushed the wrong button. Luke comes screaming out of the shadows and just goes to town in a lightsaber battle against Vader. The way that felt: The forty seconds of stillness from the audience, then the spectacle and emotion, is seared not just in my eyeballs but in my heart.”

Levy went on to explain that’s what makes cinema special in his mind. “When the tone is singular, when the themes are resonant, when the experience is connective, when the audience is reminded that the world is far bigger than ourselves, it creates a forever memory. I think that’s beautiful.”

“For one key scene in the movie, I said to my stunt and action team, ‘Guys, this is the Jedi moment.’ I pulled up that scene of Vader and Luke on my phone and restudied how it was photographed, how it was blocked, the framing, the tempo. The keen Star Wars fan will see the shot in my Deadpool movie that was inspired by a moment that I saw in a theater decades ago. That’s a forever memory. And that’s a treasure.”

It’s also worth noting that Deadpool 3’s production has been halted due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. The film’s release date is May 3, 2024, but this could change if the strike continues. Deadpool 3 not only features the return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine once again, but it’ll also serve as Wade’s introduction into the MCU.

For more Marvel-related news, check out our story on Marvel’s Echo, coming to Disney Plus and Hulu.

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