Star Wars: Starfighter is an upcoming standalone live-action film set to release on May 28, 2027, in U.S. theaters, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling. The film marks a significant departure from the Skywalker saga formula, positioning itself as an original adventure in a time period the franchise has not yet explored on screen.
Key Takeaways
- Star Wars: Starfighter releases May 28, 2027, as a standalone film set five years after The Rise of Skywalker
- Ryan Gosling leads the cast alongside Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Amy Adams in a post-Episode IX era
- Director Shawn Levy describes the film as a new adventure, not a prequel or sequel to existing saga storylines
- Principal photography wrapped December 18, 2025, after filming in the United Kingdom and Sardinia, Italy
- The film is expected to release in IMAX format and later arrive on Disney+ several months after theatrical debut
What Star Wars: Starfighter Actually Is
Shawn Levy has been explicit about positioning Star Wars: Starfighter as neither prequel nor sequel in the traditional sense. Instead, the film is a new adventure set in a period of time that the Star Wars franchise has not explored before. Kathleen Kennedy, producer, confirmed that Star Wars: Starfighter is a standalone story taking place roughly five to six years after Episode IX, moving the timeline forward rather than backward. This matters because it signals Lucasfilm’s willingness to move beyond the Skywalker saga entirely and establish fresh narrative territory.
The film’s positioning stands apart from recent Star Wars projects that have either directly continued the main saga or explored its distant past. By jumping forward to a post-Skywalker era, Star Wars: Starfighter avoids the gravitational pull of legacy characters and allows Levy to build an original story with new stakes. Ryan Gosling’s casting as the lead protagonist suggests a character of significant agency and experience, likely an established figure in this new timeline rather than a newcomer learning the ways of the Force.
Cast and Characters in Star Wars: Starfighter
Ryan Gosling headlines the film as one of two protagonists, with Flynn Gray rounding out the lead roles as a younger, mentored character protected by Gosling’s more experienced figure. This dynamic suggests a mentor-apprentice relationship at the story’s core, though official character names and descriptions have not yet been released. Matt Smith and Mia Goth play the primary antagonists chasing the protagonists across the film’s setting. Smith and Goth bring credibility to villain roles—Smith’s work in House of the Dragon and Goth’s unsettling presence in Suspiria position them well for morally complex or menacing roles.
The supporting cast expands the ensemble significantly. Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, and Daniel Ings round out the cast list. Adams’ involvement particularly signals ambition; her Oscar-nominated career suggests a substantial role rather than a minor appearance. The full scope of these characters’ arcs remains undisclosed, but the breadth of talent suggests a film with multiple narrative threads rather than a simple hero-versus-villain structure.
Production Details and Timeline
Principal photography began on August 28, 2025, in the United Kingdom, with filming also taking place in Sardinia, Italy. The production wrapped on December 18, 2025, placing the film firmly in post-production as of early 2026. Director Shawn Levy, known for his work on Stranger Things and The Adam Project, brings both television-scale storytelling and action-film experience to the project. Cinematographer Claudio Miranda, acclaimed for work on Top Gun: Maverick and Dune: Part Two, was brought on to shoot the film, suggesting a visual approach that prioritizes scale and spectacle.
The screenplay was written by Jonathan Tropper, whose credits include This Is Us and Kodachrome, bringing a character-driven sensibility to what is fundamentally an action-adventure story. Producers Shawn Levy and Kathleen Kennedy oversee the project, with Ryan Gosling, Dan Levine, Mary McLaglen, and Josh McLaglen serving as executive producers. Lucasfilm and 21 Laps Entertainment produced the film, with Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures handling distribution. The IMAX format has been confirmed for theatrical release, indicating that Levy and cinematographer Miranda have designed sequences with the expanded screen in mind.
Release Strategy and What Comes Next
Star Wars: Starfighter arrives in theaters on May 28, 2027, as a theatrical exclusive. Disney’s standard windowing strategy suggests the film will arrive on Disney+ several months after its theatrical run, though no specific streaming date has been announced. The May 2027 release positions the film as a summer tentpole, competing in a crowded marketplace alongside other major franchises. By that date, the Star Wars franchise will have had a multi-year gap since the theatrical release of The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, creating space for audience appetite to rebuild.
The film’s standalone nature means it does not depend on prior viewing of the Skywalker saga, though familiarity with Star Wars lore will likely enhance the experience. Levy’s decision to set the story five years after Episode IX signals that the film exists in a recognizable continuity without requiring audiences to care deeply about the events of episodes VII through IX. This is a deliberate choice to broaden appeal beyond saga completists.
How Star Wars: Starfighter Differs From Other Star Wars Films
Recent Star Wars theatrical films have either continued the main saga directly or explored its distant origins. The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker continued the Skywalker story; Rogue One and Solo explored the period immediately before the original trilogy. Star Wars: Starfighter, by contrast, jumps forward to unfamiliar territory, five years into a post-Episode IX galaxy. This forward momentum allows the film to establish new rules, new factions, and new conflicts without being bound by the expectations of legacy characters or saga continuity.
The film’s structure as a standalone also distinguishes it from the interconnected approach of the Disney+ series, which have often been designed to feed into larger narrative arcs. Star Wars: Starfighter is designed to stand alone, suggesting a complete story with its own beginning, middle, and end rather than a setup for sequels or spin-offs. This approach mirrors the success of Rogue One, which proved that Star Wars audiences will embrace self-contained stories set within the broader universe.
Is Star Wars: Starfighter a Must-Watch?
The film’s appeal depends on your relationship with the Star Wars franchise. If you enjoyed the original trilogy or the sequel trilogy, the cast and Shawn Levy’s direction suggest a film worth seeing. If you found the recent saga entries exhausting, Star Wars: Starfighter’s deliberate step away from Skywalker mythology might feel like a genuine refresh. The involvement of cinematographer Claudio Miranda and a heavyweight ensemble cast indicates ambition beyond fan service. Ryan Gosling’s casting suggests a character-driven action film rather than a spectacle-first approach, though the IMAX format confirms that visual scale remains a priority.
The May 2027 release date gives the production nearly two years of post-production time to refine effects, sound design, and editing. That timeline is generous enough to suggest a polished final product rather than a rushed release.
When Does Star Wars: Starfighter Come to Streaming?
Star Wars: Starfighter will arrive on Disney+ several months after its theatrical release, though Disney has not announced a specific date. Based on Disney’s typical windowing strategy for major releases, expect the film to arrive on the streaming service sometime in late 2027 or early 2028. The exact timing will depend on box office performance and Disney’s broader release calendar.
What Is the Plot of Star Wars: Starfighter?
Official plot details remain scarce, but the film’s structure suggests a mentor-apprentice dynamic with Ryan Gosling’s experienced character protecting a younger protagonist named Flynn Gray. Matt Smith and Mia Goth play antagonists pursuing the pair across a post-Episode IX galaxy. Beyond this, Lucasfilm has been tight-lipped about narrative specifics, allowing the story to remain a surprise for audiences entering the theater in May 2027.
Will Star Wars: Starfighter Connect to Other Star Wars Projects?
Shawn Levy has emphasized that Star Wars: Starfighter is a standalone story, not a prequel or sequel in the traditional sense. This suggests the film will not directly tie into the Disney+ series or other theatrical projects, though it exists within the same continuity. The five-year post-Episode IX setting places it in a timeline where the events of the main saga have already concluded, but the film’s story is entirely its own.
Star Wars: Starfighter represents Lucasfilm’s bet that the franchise can move forward without constantly referencing the Skywalker saga. The May 2027 release will reveal whether audiences are ready for a new era of Star Wars storytelling, one built on original characters and fresh conflicts rather than legacy nostalgia. With Shawn Levy directing, Ryan Gosling leading, and a talented ensemble supporting, the film has the ingredients for a compelling adventure—if it executes on the promise of being a genuine new chapter rather than a retread of familiar ground.
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: TechRadar
