The biggest news from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was undoubtedly the announcement that Shawn Levy, known for directing Deadpool & Wolverine, is helming a new standalone, live-action film titled Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling. Set to commence production this fall, the film is slated for release on May 28, 2027, following the release of 2026's The Mandalorian and Grogu. While details about the plot are scarce, Lucasfilm confirmed that Starfighter will take place approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, positioning it as the furthest point on the Star Wars timeline explored to date.
This period of Star Wars lore is largely uncharted, leaving much room for speculation. Given the conclusion of The Rise of Skywalker, and insights from the pre-Disney Legends universe, we can ponder several key questions and how Starfighter might address them.
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The Star Wars: Starfighter Games
It's worth noting that Star Wars: Starfighter shares its name with a series of games released during the PS2/Xbox era. The original Star Wars: Starfighter launched in 2001, followed by Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter in 2002. Although the new movie shares the title, it is unlikely to borrow its plot from these games, given their setting during the prequel era—far removed from the timeline of the upcoming film. However, the movie might draw inspiration from Jedi Starfighter's innovative ship-to-ship combat, which incorporated Force powers. This could potentially add an exciting twist to the film's action sequences, especially if Gosling's character is both a Jedi and a skilled pilot.
The Fate of the New Republic
The Rise of Skywalker concludes with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and his Sith Eternal, yet leaves the fate of the New Republic ambiguous. The destruction of Hosnian Prime and the death of its leadership in The Force Awakens weakened the Republic considerably. With the Sequel Trilogy focusing primarily on the conflict between Leia's Resistance and the First Order, the New Republic's status post-Rise of Skywalker remains unclear. Starfighter might explore a weakened New Republic struggling to regroup amidst internal conflicts and the lingering threat of First Order remnants. The film could depict a power struggle within the galaxy, ripe for epic space battles, possibly with Gosling's character as a New Republic pilot striving to restore order, akin to the now-canceled Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie. Alternatively, he might be a local defender or even a former First Order trooper like Finn.
As a standalone film, Starfighter is unlikely to set up a new overarching conflict but rather delve into the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker, focusing on a villain exploiting the galaxy's power vacuum.
Rebuilding the Jedi Order
Luke Skywalker's attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order was thwarted by Ben Solo's turn to the dark side and the destruction of his Jedi Temple. While many Jedi were killed, it's plausible that some survived, much like after Order 66. The current state of the Jedi remains a mystery, with Ahsoka Tano's status during the Sequel era uncertain despite her voice being heard among the Force ghosts in The Rise of Skywalker. Rey Skywalker is set to continue Luke's legacy in the New Jedi Order movie, which takes place 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, a decade after Starfighter. Whether Starfighter will address the Jedi's current state may hinge on whether Gosling's character is Force-sensitive. If so, Rey might make a cameo, but if not, the film could focus on ordinary heroes, similar to Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Are the Sith Still Around?
With Palpatine's definitive demise in The Rise of Skywalker, the question arises whether the Sith still linger in the galaxy. The Expanded Universe suggests that the Sith could persist beyond Palpatine, with new dark side users emerging. The film might explore this, perhaps introducing a new dark side villain or remnants of the Knights of Ren. However, if Gosling's character isn't a Jedi, Starfighter might not delve into the Sith's current state, leaving that exploration to future projects like the New Jedi Order movie or Simon Kinberg's Star Wars trilogy.
Could Poe Dameron or Other Sequel Trilogy Characters Return?
As a standalone film, Star Wars: Starfighter introduces a new lead character and explores a new period, yet it's Star Wars tradition to include cameos and callbacks. Poe Dameron, portrayed by Oscar Isaac, seems a likely candidate for a cameo, given his status as a top pilot and hero of the Resistance. Chewbacca could also return, perhaps alongside Gosling's character in the Millennium Falcon. John Boyega's Finn might appear if the film involves First Order remnants, given his role in inspiring defecting Stormtroopers. Rey's appearance might depend on whether Gosling's character is a Jedi, aligning with Lucasfilm's plans for her future.
Which surviving character from The Rise of Skywalker would you most like to see in Star Wars: Starfighter? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
For more on the future of the Star Wars franchise, explore why Lucasfilm needs to stop announcing movies and just make them, and stay updated with every Star Wars movie and series in development.
