The galaxy far, far away is about to chart a brand-new course. Lucasfilm has officially announced the cast and production kickoff for Star Wars: Starfighter, an entirely original adventure directed by Shawn Levy and set to hit theaters on May 28, 2027.
For months, fans speculated about Levy’s mysterious Star Wars project, and now the curtain has lifted. Academy Award–nominated actor Ryan Gosling will headline the film, joined by Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams. Together, this ensemble promises a mix of fresh talent and familiar faces, giving Starfighter a distinctive identity in the saga.
A New Era of Storytelling
What sets Starfighter apart is its setting: the story takes place in a period of Star Wars history that has never been explored on screen. Positioned approximately five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, the film leaves behind the legacy characters to tell something truly new. For fans who’ve been eager for bold storytelling unbound by the Skywalker saga, this may be the moment they’ve been waiting for.
Shawn Levy, best known for hits like Deadpool & Wolverine and Stranger Things, expressed his excitement as production began:
“From the day Kathy Kennedy called me up, inviting me to develop an original adventure in this incredible Star Wars galaxy, this experience has been a dream come true. Star Wars shaped my sense of what story can do, how characters and cinematic moments can live with us forever.”
With Levy at the helm and a script by Jonathan Tropper, Starfighter seems poised to balance character-driven storytelling with the sweeping cinematic spectacle fans expect from Star Wars.
Gosling in the Galaxy
The biggest surprise is, of course, Ryan Gosling stepping into the Star Wars universe. His casting was revealed in dramatic fashion at Star Wars Celebration Japan, where he appeared alongside Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni. Gosling teased that he’ll play a completely new character, though details remain tightly under wraps.
Given his ability to balance intensity, vulnerability, and a dash of humor in past roles, Gosling feels like an inspired choice to lead this new era of Star Wars storytelling.
The Future of Star Wars Films
Starfighter is one of several films currently in development at Lucasfilm, alongside projects from James Mangold, Taika Waititi, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, and Simon Kinberg. With so many creative voices shaping the future, the Star Wars theatrical slate is starting to look as diverse and ambitious as the galaxy itself.
But all eyes will be on Starfighter first. With production underway, a powerhouse cast, and a director eager to honor the franchise while pushing it into new territory, anticipation is already sky-high.
Mark Your Calendars
Memorial Day weekend has always been special for Star Wars fans—it’s the same window that launched A New Hope back in 1977. Nearly 50 years later, Star Wars: Starfighter will carry that tradition forward when it lands in theaters on May 28, 2027.
The countdown to a new chapter has officially begun.
