In a galaxy not so far away, Ryan Gosling is about to suit up for hyperspace.
At Star Wars Celebration Japan, director Shawn Levy officially confirmed the next theatrical entry in the franchise – Star Wars: Starfighter – set to begin production this fall with Gosling in the lead role.
The announcement was made during a surprise appearance by the actor himself, who joined Levy, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy, and CCO Dave Filoni onstage to unveil the title and timeline of the project.
The film will be set approximately five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, placing it in uncharted post-Skywalker territory. While plot specifics remain under wraps, the title Starfighter and Gosling’s presence suggest a high-octane, pilot-centric story – possibly aligned with the spirit of Rogue Squadron or Top Gun in space. Gosling’s role is said to be a brand-new character, not tied to legacy heroes or known bloodlines, giving the actor a clean slate in one of pop culture’s most iconic universes.
According to Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Starfighter will hit theaters on Memorial Day weekend 2027, kicking off what is expected to be a new era of standalone cinematic storytelling for the franchise.
This marks one of several theatrical films currently in development at Lucasfilm, alongside titles by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and a new trilogy helmed by Simon Kinberg. Levy, hot off directing Deadpool & Wolverine for Marvel, said his approach to Star Wars prioritizes tone and character, not just timeline connectivity. “I didn’t want to make a movie that felt like homework,” Levy previously told Happy Sad Confused podcast listeners. “This is about wonder, emotion, and something fresh.”
For Gosling, the move into the Star Wars universe continues a streak of genre-defining roles. After delivering standout performances in Blade Runner 2049 and Barbie, his casting as a new Star Wars hero signals Disney and Lucasfilm’s bet on both A-list talent and bold storytelling.
Star Wars: Starfighter comes to theaters on May 28, 2027. #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/dsbVb3VdBY
— Star Wars (@starwars) April 18, 2025
Speculation has already begun over what kind of starfighter Gosling’s character might pilot and what remnants of the Empire or First Order may still exist in this timeline. Could this be the franchise’s next Rogue One or a precursor to the Jedi Order’s revival?
What we do know is this: Lucasfilm is banking big on original characters, fresh storylines, and Gosling’s charisma to take Star Wars into its next big screen generation.
