GeraldIt’s been six years since a new Star Wars film and audiences were not only treated to news of a new movie out of Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, but it even came with a premiere date.
Star Wars: Starfighter will serve as a new standalone film set five years after the events of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), directed by Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine, 2024), and starring Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy, 2024). Production is scheduled to begin in Fall 2025, with Lucasfilm aiming for a theatrical release on 28 May 2027 with scriptwriter Jonathan Tropper (The Adam Project, Banshee), who previously worked with Levy on multiple projects joining up to bring the production to life.
While details about the new film have not been revealed, it has been described as “an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet”. Space fights have long been a staple in the Star Wars franchise, from the films, to PC classics such as X-Wing (1993) and TIE Fighter (1994), which brought immersive space combat simulation to a new level. Subsequently, the Rogue Squadron series took off on the Nintendo 64, and reached new heights on the Nintendo GameCube with Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader.
For years, fans hoped to see that same spirit on the big screen — hopes that briefly soared with the announcement of a Rogue Squadron film from director Patty Jenkins, before it was seemingly shelved.
That legacy now finds new life, as revealed during a packed panel at Makuhari Messe, with fans and Geek Culture in attendance.
After being welcomed to the stage by writer and director Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian, Ahsoka), Levy immediately disclaimed that the movie “…is a stand-alone. It’s not a prequel, not a sequel. It’s a new adventure. It’s set in a period of time that we haven’t seen explored yet.”
Levy’s fear stems from his excitement in talking to fans, but it was not without good reason.
“I’ve read about people who are in the movie and who are not in the movie. Most of it is very inaccurate but one of those rumours I heard that I do need to dispel is I had heard at one point that my movie was going to star Ryan Gosling, and believe me that would be a dream come true for me. So today, I just wanted to tell you here in this room that the rumour is 100 per cent…true.”, sending the hall into a frenzy.
Wearing a “never tell me the odds” cap in a nod to Han Solo, Ryan Gosling took the stage to a warm welcome. A childhood photo followed, showing his Star Wars bedsheets from when he was a kid, submitted by his mother.
“The reality is that this script is just so good. It has such a great story with great and original characters,” said Gosling from the stage. “It’s filled with so much heart and adventure, and there just really is not a more perfect filmmaker for this particular story than Shawn.”
“She still has them, obviously,” Gosling joked, referring to the Star Wars bedsheets. “Naturally, she thought that it might be something that the fans would appreciate, but I suspect that she just sort of wants to justify years of hoarding.”
Looking at the massive projection of the bedsheets, he added, “As you can see from the picture, I guess I was probably dreaming about Star Wars before I even saw the film. And it’s probably framed my idea of what a movie even was.”
Star Wars: Starfighter is the first major theatrical Star Wars project to be set after the Sequel Trilogy. With Shawn Levy directing and Ryan Gosling starring, it signals Lucasfilm’s plans to tell new stories with fresh characters beyond the Skywalker saga.
While the release date is still two years away, the announcement at Star Wars Celebration Japan has already set the stage. With a fresh story, a star-powered cast, and a creative team ready to take flight, Star Wars: Starfighter looks ready to chart a new course through the stars.
Gerald currently straddles between his love of video games and board gaming. There’s nothing that interests him more than trying out the newest and fanciest gadget in town as well. He dreams of publishing a board game sometime in the future!
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