Lucasfilm is signaling a definitive switch in direction for Star Wars. Nearly half a century after George Lucas first opened the door to the galaxy far, far away, the franchise is poised to leave the Skywalker bloodline behind and explore a new narrative landscape.
Star Wars is coming back to theaters next year, marking its first cinematic release since Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker (2019) by J.J. Abrams. After a stretch of streaming-based storytelling, Lucasfilm is shifting attention back to film, beginning with Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu in 2026, following Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) and Din Grogu.
However, excitement escalated considerably when Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Tokyo delivered a major reveal. Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni were joined by Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling to announce Star Wars: Starfighter, scheduled for May 28, 2027.
StarWars.com reported, “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.” The official description continued: “One of several theatrical projects still in development from Lucasfilm, including films by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and a new trilogy by Simon Kinberg, Levy’s film–Star Wars: Starfighter–will star Gosling and go into production starting this fall.”
The ensemble has expanded to include Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, Amy Adams, with Mia Goth and Matt Smith already confirmed. Flynn Gray has drawn significant attention with a co-lead role, stirring discussion of a possible Jedi-Padawan arc.
The film pivots entirely away from Rey Skywalker and the Skywalker lineage, instead placing the story in a post–First Order galaxy populated by unfamiliar figures and unseen threats. As Lucasfilm describes it, the film is “an entirely original story set in a period of time never before explored” and “an all-new standalone adventure.”
Reflecting on his involvement, Shawn Levy shared, “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,” said the Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) director.
Reports have emerged that Starfighter may not remain a singular outing for long. Insider claims hint that it could serve as the first chapter of a trilogy and may even include a cameo designed to link future installments. According to @MyTimeToShineH (via SFFGazette), Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker could make an appearance, potentially bridging Starfighter with her delayed Jedi Order film.
One rumored storyline centers around a young boy discovering his Force abilities while being shielded by his mother—possibly Amy Adams’ character—who is believed to be a Jedi. That narrative could ultimately connect to Rey, tying into Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s New Jedi Order project.
Ryan Gosling leads the cast with Shawn Levy directing and Jonathan Tropper penning the script. Whether the film launches a franchise or remains separate, its role in shaping Star Wars’ future could be pivotal.
Levy spoke with Collider to clarify the approach: “Well, for one thing, it is different in that it is an all-new non-sequel, non-prequel adventure. It's new characters, it's a new timeline. It inherits legacy themes, but it's really trying to give Star Wars [fans]–and just movie audiences–something fresh, something new,” he said. He added, “And with a spirit of play and big-hearted adventure with moments of real levity that, frankly, A New Hope had in a revolutionary way.”
Speaking about his collaborators, Levy continued, “My crew, my DP, Claudio Miranda, Gosling is my kind of central collaborator in the lead role. It's certainly been a dream come true. My 10-year-old self is on set with me every day,” he said. “In fact, he's going to catch a flight tonight to go back to the set and keep shooting on Monday. But it's a huge, invigorating opportunity because Lucasfilm has been so encouraging of me doing something new.”
He added, “There's no pressure to be derivative or limited by an obligation to what came before. There's just a love of what came before.”
Levy further emphasized his vision when speaking with The Playlist. “Every time I’ve asked, ‘Should I use this character that was maybe in that movie?’ Every time it’s, ‘You know what? People have seen that. Do something new,'” he said.
“There is no mandate or interference other than the constant encouragement, ‘Make this new.’ And that’s the truth,” he continued. “Unlike Solo… unlike Rise of Skywalker, which was a sequel to two other movies and ultimately a ninth film in the Skywalker saga, Starfighter is all new characters based on new ideas that Jonathan and I cooked up alone and together.”
With The Mandalorian and Grogu arriving next year and Starfighter set for 2027, the franchise appears to be charting a new path—one driven by self-contained stories and completely fresh cinematic opportunities.
Where do you stand on this bold new direction for Star Wars? Let us know in the comments down below!
