He has a star role if put into fresh production (7)

I believe the answer is:

sheriff

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'he has a star role' is the definition.
The answer is a person as well as being a singular noun. This is suggested by the definition.

'if put into fresh production' is the wordplay.
'put into' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'production' is an anagram indicator.
'fresh' anagrammed gives 'sherf'.
'if' placed into 'sherf' is 'SHERIFF'.

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(Other definitions for sheriff that I've seen before include "Scots judge" , "Crown's county officer" , "Lawman of the wild west" , "Head of the posse" , "American lawman" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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