The most exciting announcement from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was the confirmation that Shawn Levy, known for his work on Deadpool & Wolverine, will direct the upcoming standalone film Star Wars: Starfighter, featuring Ryan Gosling in the lead role. Set to hit theaters on May 28, 2027, following 2026's The Mandalorian and Grogu, Starfighter's production is slated to begin this fall. The film is positioned five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, making it the furthest yet on the Star Wars timeline.
While specifics about the plot are scarce, we do know that Starfighter takes place in a relatively unexplored period of Star Wars lore. This era, post-Rise of Skywalker, offers ample room for speculation based on the film's conclusion and the pre-Disney Legends universe. Let's delve into the key questions lingering from The Rise of Skywalker 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 from the early 2000s, namely Star Wars: Starfighter (2001) and Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter (2002). These games were set during the events of Episodes I and II, respectively, and focused on different characters and battles. The new film, set decades later, is unlikely to borrow directly from these games' plots. However, the ship-to-ship combat seen in Jedi Starfighter, enhanced by Force powers, could inspire similar action sequences in the movie. It's intriguing to consider if Gosling's character might be a Jedi and a skilled pilot, adding an exciting twist to the film's action scenes.
The Fate of the New Republic
The Rise of Skywalker concludes with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, but leaves the state of the galaxy ambiguous. The New Republic, severely weakened after the destruction of Hosnian Prime by the First Order's Starkiller Base, is a focal point of interest. The Sequel Trilogy largely focused on the conflict between Leia's Resistance and the First Order, leaving the New Republic's fate after the loss of its leadership unclear. In the time of Star Wars: Starfighter, the New Republic might still exist, albeit in a diminished capacity, grappling with internal conflicts as seen in the novel Star Wars: Bloodline between Populists and Centrists.
Moreover, the question of whether remnants of the First Order still linger five years after Palpatine's defeat remains. Historical precedents within the Star Wars universe, such as the persistence of the Empire post-Battle of Endor, suggest that some factions of the First Order could continue to exist, possibly rallying around a new figurehead. This potential power vacuum in the galaxy could set the stage for epic space battles and conflicts, a hallmark of the Star Wars saga.
Piracy, as depicted in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, is another issue likely to have escalated in the chaotic post-Empire years. With the New Republic struggling to re-establish order, pirates and smugglers could exploit the lawlessness on the galaxy's fringes, adding another layer of complexity to the setting of Starfighter.
Gosling's character might be a New Republic pilot striving to restore order, potentially filling the narrative space left by Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie. Alternatively, he could represent a local defender of a planet struggling without Republic aid, or even an ex-First Order trooper akin to John Boyega's Finn. As a standalone film, Starfighter might explore the fallout of The Rise of Skywalker without establishing a new overarching conflict, focusing instead on a villain exploiting the galaxy's current power struggles.
Rebuilding the Jedi Order
Luke Skywalker's attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order was disrupted by Ben Solo's turn to the dark side and the destruction of the Jedi Temple. While many Jedi students perished, it's plausible that some survived, much like during Order 66. The current state of the Jedi and the whereabouts of characters like Ahsoka Tano, whose voice is heard among the Force ghosts at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, remain uncertain, though Dave Filoni has hinted that Ahsoka isn’t dead.
Rey Skywalker's mission to revive the Jedi Order, set to be the focus of the New Jedi Order movie directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and taking place 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, might not directly tie into Starfighter. The inclusion of Jedi themes in Starfighter could hinge on whether Gosling's character is Force-sensitive. If so, Rey could have a cameo, reaching out to this promising pilot. If not, Starfighter might follow the model of Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story, focusing on ordinary heroes rather than the Jedi.
Are the Sith Still Around?
The defeat of Palpatine in The Rise of Skywalker raises questions about the Sith's continued presence in the galaxy. The Expanded Universe suggests that the Sith could persist even after Palpatine's demise, with new Dark Side users emerging. The Clone Wars series showed Palpatine had other Dark Side rivals, such as the Nightsisters and Maul, hinting at potential new threats in the power vacuum left by Palpatine. Whether Starfighter will delve into these themes remains to be seen, especially if Gosling's character isn't a Jedi, potentially leaving such 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?
Star Wars: Starfighter introduces a new lead character and explores a new period, yet the franchise's tradition of including cameos and callbacks suggests that familiar faces from the Sequel Trilogy might appear. Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron, known as one of the galaxy's best pilots, could be involved in rebuilding the New Republic, making him a prime candidate for a role in Starfighter.
Chewbacca, the beloved Wookiee, could also make a return, perhaps alongside Gosling's character in the Millennium Falcon. John Boyega's Finn, hinted to be a leader of deserting Stormtroopers, might connect with the film's narrative if it involves the First Order's remnants. Rey's appearance would likely depend on the Force sensitivity of Gosling's character, given her role in rebuilding the Jedi Order.
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 catch up on every Star Wars movie and series in development.
