The galaxy far, far away may be entering a new trilogy era sooner than fans expected. Lucasfilm’s next major theatrical outing, Star Wars: Starfighter (2027), has been officially billed as a “standalone adventure.” Yet new reports suggest the film might secretly be setting up an ongoing saga, complete with a surprise cameo to tie the stories together.
The movie, directed by Shawn Levy, stars Ryan Gosling in his Star Wars debut. “Set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Gosling will play a brand-new character teased by the actor’s appearance on stage,” StarWars.com confirmed. Filming begins this fall, with Mia Goth, Matt Smith, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, Amy Adams, and Flynn Gray rounding out the cast.
Gray’s role as co-lead has fueled speculation that the film will spotlight a Jedi-Padawan dynamic not seen in live action since the prequels. Insider Daniel Richtman detailed: “A Jedi (played by Ryan Gosling) trains his 15-year-old nephew as his Padawan. They're on a mission while being pursued by two villains–one male, one female. The Padawan's mother also plays an important role in the story, and there’s another major female character as well.”
But according to @MyTimeToShineH (via SFFGazette), Starfighter may not be as self-contained as Lucasfilm first suggested. The insider claims the studio is laying groundwork for a trilogy, with a key cameo helping connect this story to the broader timeline. Many fans are pointing to Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker, whose own New Jedi Order film has been delayed. Amy Adams’ rumored Jedi mother character could tie the plot directly into Rey’s future path, creating a natural bridge.
Shawn Levy expressed his excitement in a press release: “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.”
If the trilogy rumors prove true, Starfighter may not just introduce fresh faces but also launch the next era of big-screen Star Wars storytelling—reigniting the franchise’s theatrical momentum while keeping one eye on the future of Rey and the Jedi Order.
How do you feel about this potential shift away from a new standalone? Let us know in the comments down below!
