The biggest news to emerge from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was the announcement that Shawn Levy, the director of Deadpool & Wolverine, will helm Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone live-action film featuring Ryan Gosling. Scheduled to start production this fall, Starfighter is slated for release on May 28, 2027, following 2026's The Mandalorian and Grogu. Set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Starfighter will explore a period further along the Star Wars timeline than any other film or series to date.
While plot details remain sparse, this timeframe offers a rich tapestry of unexplored Star Wars lore. Following the conclusion of The Rise of Skywalker, the galaxy's future remains uncertain. We can only speculate based on the film's ending and the pre-Disney Legends universe's depiction of this era. Let's delve into the major questions left unanswered by 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 PS2/Xbox era. The first Star Wars: Starfighter game, released in 2001, is set during Episode I, showcasing other heroic pilots before and during the Battle of Naboo. The sequel, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter (2002), takes place during Episode II, focusing on Jedi Master Adi Gallia and the pirate character Nym. Despite the shared name, the new movie is set decades later, making it unlikely to borrow plot elements from these games. However, it might draw inspiration from Jedi Starfighter's ship-to-ship combat, which introduced Force powers like shields, lightning, and shockwaves. Could Gosling's character be a Jedi and a skilled pilot? This could add an exciting dimension to the film's action sequences.
The Fate of the New Republic
After the victory over Emperor Palpatine in The Rise of Skywalker, the state of the galaxy and the New Republic remains unclear. The Sequel Trilogy's focus on the conflict between Leia's Resistance and the First Order left the New Republic's fate ambiguous following the destruction of Hosnian Prime by Starkiller Base. The New Republic, already struggling as seen in the novel Star Wars: Bloodline, might still exist but significantly weakened, dealing with internal conflicts between Populists and Centrists. The potential remnants of the First Order could also persist, rallying around a surviving figurehead. This power struggle could set the stage for epic space battles in Starfighter, with Gosling possibly portraying a New Republic pilot striving to restore order. The film could fill the void left by Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie, or feature Gosling as a local defender or even an ex-First Order trooper like Finn.
As a standalone movie, Starfighter is unlikely to establish a new overarching conflict but may explore the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker, focusing on a villain exploiting the galaxy's power vacuum. The galaxy's pirate problem, highlighted in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, could also play a significant role, adding to the chaotic backdrop of the film.
Rebuilding the Jedi Order
Luke Skywalker's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order were shattered when Ben Solo turned to the dark side and destroyed Luke's temple. While many Jedi were killed, it's possible some survived, akin to those who escaped Order 66. The current status of Ahsoka Tano during this era is uncertain, though her voice was heard among the Force ghosts at the end of The Rise of Skywalker. Rey Skywalker's mission to rebuild the Jedi Order is set to be the focus of the New Jedi Order movie, taking place 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Whether Starfighter will address the Jedi's state may depend on Gosling's character's Force sensitivity. If not, the film might follow the path of Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story, focusing on ordinary heroes.
Are the Sith Still Around?
With Palpatine's final defeat in The Rise of Skywalker, the question of the Sith's survival looms large. The Expanded Universe suggests that Palpatine's demise did not end the Sith lineage. The Star Wars: Legacy comic, set over a century later, introduced Darth Krayt and his Sith loyalists. Even if the Sith are not directly involved, other dark side practitioners, like the Nightsisters or surviving members of the Knights of Ren, could pose a threat. Whether Starfighter delves into this remains to be seen, especially if Gosling's character is not a Jedi.
Could Poe Dameron or Other Sequel Trilogy Characters Return?
Star Wars: Starfighter introduces a new lead character in a previously unseen period, but as a standalone film, it may still feature cameos from familiar faces. Poe Dameron, the galaxy's premier pilot, could play a role in rebuilding the New Republic. Chewbacca, perhaps still with Rey or on his own adventures, might join forces with Gosling's character. Finn, hinted to be a leader among deserters from the First Order, could also return, especially if the film involves First Order remnants. Rey's appearance might hinge on Gosling's character's Force sensitivity, given her focus on rebuilding the Jedi Order.
Which surviving character from The Rise of Skywalker would you most like to see in Star Wars: Starfighter? Cast your vote in our poll and let us know in the comments below.
AnswerSee ResultsFor more on the future of the Star Wars franchise, find out why Lucasfilm needs to stop announcing movies and just make them, and brush up on every Star Wars movie and series in development.
