Disney and Lucasfilm are pushing the Star Wars saga in an unexpected direction. While previous announcements have seemingly vanished into development limbo, Star Wars: Starfighter is officially on the calendar for May 28, 2027.
Officially unveiled at this year's Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, the film promises a standalone story set five years after Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker (2019).
Shawn Levy, known for Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), is directing, with Ryan Gosling (Blade Runner 2049, Barbie) stepping into the lead role.
Gosling will portray a new character, widely speculated to be a Jedi. Rumors also suggest that Flynn Gray (Baltimore) — who has been cast — will play his Padawan.
However, despite being set so close to the sequel trilogy, none of the actors from those films are expected to return, leaving the story largely self-contained.
The cast also includes Matt Smith (Doctor Who), Mia Goth (Pearl), Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge), Simon Bird (The Inbetweeners), Jamael Westman (Animals), Daniel Ings (The Crown), and Amy Adams (Man of Steel), signaling a new era for the faraway galaxy in film.
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With that said, there is one actor from the sequels who has expressed an interest in returning: Oscar Isaac, who portrayed charismatic X-Wing fighter pilot Poe Dameron in The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017), and The Rise of Skywalker.
During a red carpet interview at TIFF, Isaac was asked by Entertainment Tonight whether he'd like to reunite with his Drive (2011) co-star Ryan Gosling in the upcoming Star Wars film. “I'm ready for it,” he said. “Let me know when.”
Whether or not Poe or other sequel trilogy characters, like Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Finn (John Boyega), will make an appearance remains to be seen.
While Disney and Lucasfilm will likely try to distance the film from the sequel trilogy — which received mixed to negative reviews from audiences — the fact that the new film is set just a few years out from The Rise of Skywalker suggests that the sequel era and its characters might not be going anywhere in a hurry.
Could Starfighter be posing as a “standalone” film when, in fact, it will turn out to be filled with cameos from sequel characters like Finn, BB-8, and Poe Dameron? We'll find out when the film releases in theaters on May 28, 2027.
Are you excited about Star Wars: Starfighter? Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below!
