Spotlight on Star Wars: Starfighter's Cinematographer: A Visionary Behind the Lens

Star Wars: Starfighter's Cinematographer, Claudio Miranda, brings a wealth of expertise to the upcoming Shawn Levy-directed film, set to premiere on May 28, 2027.

Known for his Oscar-winning work on Life of Pi, Miranda’s involvement promises a visually stunning addition to the Star Wars saga.

With principal photography underway in the United Kingdom and Sardinia, Italy, as of mid-September 2025, fans are eager to see how his signature style will shape this space opera.

Let’s dive into the career of this cinematic master and what his role might mean for the film’s aesthetic.

Who Is Claudio Miranda and What Defines His Style?

Claudio Miranda, born in Chile and raised in the United States, has carved a niche with his innovative use of light and color.

He won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Life of Pi in 2012, celebrated for its breathtaking water sequences and digital effects, according to IMDb.

His portfolio also includes The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, earning another Oscar nomination, and Top Gun: Maverick, where his aerial shots redefined action cinematography, as noted by Variety in 2022.

More recently, he filmed Brad Pitt's latest movie F1: The Movie, released in July 2025, showcasing his ability to capture high-speed racing with immersive detail, per Esquire’s interview with Miranda on July 18, 2025.

Miranda’s style leans toward naturalistic lighting blended with cutting-edge technology, often using LED panels and virtual production, a technique he mastered on The Batman in 2022, per a Hollywood Reporter feature.

This approach could bring a fresh, immersive look to Star Wars: Starfighter, balancing practical sets with expansive digital worlds.

How Might His Experience Shape Star Wars: Starfighter?

Miranda’s collaboration with Shawn Levy, who directed Deadpool & Wolverine, suggests a dynamic visual fusion. Levy’s release of a first-look image in September 2025, showing Ryan Gosling and Flynn Gray filming in the Mediterranean Sea, hints at expansive outdoor shoots, as reported by World of Reel.

Miranda’s expertise in capturing natural landscapes, seen in Life of Pi’s ocean vistas, could elevate these scenes, offering a grounded yet fantastical Star Wars experience.

His work on F1: The Movie, with its tight cockpit shots using custom "Carmen" cameras, suggests he might bring similar ingenuity to starfighter interiors.

The film’s setting, five years after The Rise of Skywalker, calls for a blend of nostalgia and innovation.

Miranda’s work on virtual sets, like those in The Batman, aligns with Lucasfilm’s StageCraft technology, potentially creating seamless transitions between real and CGI environments.

This could mean a richer, more detailed galaxy, with Miranda’s flair for dramatic lighting adding depth to space battles and alien worlds.

What Past Projects Hint at His Impact?

Looking at Miranda’s past, his influence on Star Wars: Starfighter becomes clearer. On Top Gun: Maverick, he crafted high-octane aerial sequences with a cinematic glow, earning praise from Roger Ebert’s review in 2022.

This skill could translate into thrilling starfighter dogfights, a key element of the film’s title and 2001 video game inspiration, as noted on Wikipedia.

His recent F1: The Movie project demonstrated his knack for blending practical stunts with digital enhancements, hinting at dynamic action in Star Wars: Starfighter.

His collaboration with directors like David Fincher on Benjamin Button showcased a meticulous attention to detail, using practical effects alongside digital enhancements.

For Star Wars: Starfighter, this might mean intricate set designs in Sardinia, paired with virtual backdrops, creating a lived-in universe that fans adore.

His adaptability suggests a film that honors the franchise while pushing visual boundaries.

What Can Fans Expect from His Cinematography?

With Claudio Miranda at the helm, Star Wars: Starfighter is poised to dazzle with a unique visual identity.

His ability to merge practical and digital elements, honed on projects like F1: The Movie and The Batman, could redefine how we see the galaxy far, far away, especially under Levy’s storytelling vision.

Some Closing Thoughts:

As filming progresses, Miranda’s past successes hint at a movie that will captivate audiences with its beauty and action.

Fans can look forward to a cinematic journey that blends the old with the new, all through the lens of a true artist.

Stay tuned to this space as we bring you all the latest developments surrounding this teams first foray into A Galaxy Far Far Away!