Micheál Fitzgerald is a bold architect of short-form science fiction, blending blockbuster instincts with indie ingenuity. As a director, actor, and writer, he has carved out a distinctive niche, particularly through his inventive Star Wars fan films ‘Stormtroopers’ and ‘Stormtroopers: Siege;, and more recently, the cerebral The Struggle by Lumon. In each of these works, Fitzgerald demonstrates a remarkable ability to merge genre spectacle with intellectual tension – whether it’s trench warfare in a galaxy far, far away or the fractured psychology of a future racing driver.

In ‘Stormtroopers‘, Fitzgerald channels the mythos of the Star Wars universe through a grounded, war-soaked lens, capturing the emotional grit of soldiers caught in intergalactic chaos. The film pulses with dynamic ensemble performances, sharp action choreography, and a stunning visual palette that rivals studio fare – all crafted with clear reverence for the source material. With ‘Siege‘, he doubles down. Co-writing with William Bean, Fitzgerald expands the scale and deepens the emotional texture, delivering not just another fan homage, but a legitimate entry into sci-fi storytelling. The Irish landscapes masquerading as alien worlds, the rich cinematography, the character-driven pace – all of it feels lived-in, vital, and worthy of canon.

‘The Struggle by Lumon‘, Fitzgerald’s most recent effort, strips away the lore and lands us in something stranger: his own universe. A two-minute concept film that plays like the trailer, it’s sleek, mysterious, and restrained to a fault. But therein lies the confidence. Fitzgerald doesn’t overshare – he seduces with suggestion. Whether building rebellion on a battlefield or tension on a racetrack, his signature remains the same: spectacle in service of substance, and always a mind behind the mask.