A galaxy of fresh beginnings is on the horizon. During Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Japan, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni ignited lightsabers of excitement with the announcement of an all-new theatrical release: Star Wars: Starfighter. The film will premiere exclusively in theaters on May 28, 2027.
A New Era Begins
Star Wars: Starfighter marks a bold, standalone entry into the Star Wars cinematic universe. Set approximately five years after the events of 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, the film introduces an entirely new cast of characters and ventures into unexplored territory within the Star Wars timeline. With no legacy characters or familiar planets announced, the movie aims to expand the galaxy far, far away in ways fans have never seen before.
Leading this hyperspace leap is director Shawn Levy, fresh off Deadpool & Wolverine and the global success of Stranger Things. Levy’s genre versatility and character-first storytelling are expected to bring a fresh yet emotionally resonant tone to the Star Wars saga.
Gosling Enters the Galaxy
In a casting move that has already sent seismic waves through fandom, Ryan Gosling has been tapped to star in the lead role. Known for his Oscar-nominated performances in Barbie and La La Land, as well as his roles in Drive and Blade Runner 2049, Gosling brings both leading-man charisma and an ability to ground science fiction in rich emotional stakes.
While plot details remain tightly under wraps—standard for any Lucasfilm venture—the title Starfighter and the announced timeline suggest an aerial, action-driven saga centered around elite pilots navigating a galaxy still healing from the aftermath of Palpatine’s final defeat.
The Force Is Strong With This One
Production on Star Wars: Starfighter is slated to begin this Fall. As the first live-action Star Wars theatrical film since 2019, expectations are sky-high, and Lucasfilm appears poised to deliver a film that bridges the intimate character work of Rogue One with the sweeping spectacle that defined the original trilogy.
With new characters, new worlds, and a director-actor pairing that’s never-before-seen in this galaxy, Star Wars: Starfighter could be the beginning of a new theatrical legacy for the franchise.
Are you ready to blast off into uncharted galactic territory? What role do you think Ryan Gosling will play? And what part of the Star Wars timeline do you hope the movie explores? Share your theories with us on social media using #Starfighter and #StarWars!
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