The biggest highlight from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was undoubtedly the announcement that Shawn Levy, the director of Deadpool & Wolverine, is set to helm Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone, live-action film featuring Ryan Gosling in the lead role. Scheduled to follow 2026’s The Mandalorian and Grogu, Starfighter is slated to start production this fall, with a targeted release date of May 28, 2027.
While the plot details of Starfighter remain largely under wraps, Lucasfilm has confirmed that the film will be set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This timeline positions Starfighter as the furthest-reaching Star Wars movie or series to date, exploring a period of the galaxy's history that has yet to be fully explored.
The lore surrounding this era post-Rise of Skywalker is not well-documented, which leaves ample room for speculation. We can draw from the conclusion of The Rise of Skywalker and insights from the pre-Disney Legends universe to ponder the potential direction of Starfighter. Let's delve into the significant questions raised by The Rise of Skywalker's ending and consider 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 original Star Wars: Starfighter was released in 2001, followed by Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter in 2002. While the new movie adopts the same name, it is unlikely to draw heavily from the plot of these games, given its setting many decades later. The original game is set during Episode I, focusing on other heroic pilots during the Battle of Naboo, while Jedi Starfighter is set during Episode II, centered on Jedi Master Adi Gallia and the pirate Nym.
However, the film might take inspiration from Jedi Starfighter's innovative use of Force powers in ship-to-ship combat, enhancing the traditional weaponry with abilities like Force shields, lightning, and shockwaves. This could be a thrilling addition to the movie's action sequences, especially if Gosling's character is portrayed as both a Jedi and a skilled pilot.
The Fate of the New Republic
The Rise of Skywalker concludes with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, yet it leaves the state of the galaxy after the Battle of Exegol ambiguous. The fate of the New Republic post-Star Wars: The Force Awakens, where the First Order's Starkiller Base obliterated Hosnian Prime and its leadership, remains uncertain. Most Star Wars projects in the Sequel era have focused on the conflict between Leia's Resistance and the First Order, leaving the New Republic's status unclear.
It's conceivable that the New Republic still exists during the time of Star Wars: Starfighter, albeit in a weakened state. The novel Star Wars: Bloodline indicates that the New Republic faced internal conflicts between Populists and Centrists, which could persist as the government attempts to rebuild. Additionally, remnants of the First Order might still linger five years after Palpatine's defeat, rallying around a surviving leader following Kylo Ren's death. This suggests a potential power struggle in the galaxy, setting the stage for the epic space battles that Star Wars fans crave.
Piracy, as highlighted in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, remains a significant issue in the post-Empire era. As the New Republic struggles to assert its authority, pirates and smugglers exploit the resulting chaos, a problem likely exacerbated since The Force Awakens. Gosling could portray a New Republic pilot striving to restore order, potentially filling the void left by Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie. Alternatively, he might be a local defender of a planet trying to protect itself without the Republic's aid, or even a former First Order trooper like John Boyega's Finn.
Given Starfighter's standalone nature, it may not establish a new overarching conflict akin to Rebels vs. Empire or Resistance vs. First Order. Instead, it could explore the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker, focusing on a villain exploiting the galaxy's power vacuum.
Rebuilding the Jedi Order
Luke Skywalker's initial goal in the New Republic era was to rebuild the Jedi Order, destroyed by Palpatine, and train a new generation of Force-sensitive individuals. This endeavor was successful for a time, as seen in The Book of Boba Fett and various books and comics detailing Luke's Jedi Temple. However, the Skywalker family curse intervened, leading Ben Solo, under the influence of Supreme Leader Snoke/Palpatine, to destroy the temple and join the Knights of Ren as Kylo Ren. Luke, devastated, retreated to Ahch-To.
The current state of the Jedi remains a mystery. While many died in Ben's attack, it's unlikely that all were killed, echoing the survival of some Jedi after Order 66. The status of Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka Tano, whose voice is heard among the Force ghosts at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, yet Dave Filoni has hinted she isn't dead, adds another layer of intrigue.
Daisy Ridley's Rey Skywalker is set to rebuild the Jedi Order once more, a focus of the upcoming New Jedi Order movie directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Whether Starfighter will touch on the Jedi's current state may hinge on whether Gosling's character is Force-sensitive. If so, Rey might appear briefly, reaching out to this promising pilot. If not, Starfighter could follow the example of Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story, focusing on ordinary heroes rather than Jedi.
Are the Sith Still Around?
The question of the Sith's persistence post-Rise of Skywalker is as compelling as that of the Jedi. With Palpatine's definitive demise, it's uncertain whether the Sith order has finally ended or if new Dark Side practitioners will emerge. The Star Wars Legends novels and the Star Wars: Legacy comic suggest that Palpatine's death did not mark the end of Sith activity, with figures like Darth Krayt rising over a century later.
The Prequel trilogy's Rule of Two was challenged by the presence of other Dark Side factions in the Clone Wars series, such as the Nightsisters and Maul. It's plausible that other Dark Side users might exploit Palpatine's absence, whether as another apprentice, surviving Knights of Ren members, or a fallen Jedi.
However, whether Star Wars: Starfighter will explore these themes depends on the nature of Gosling's character. If he isn't a Jedi, the film might bypass the Sith altogether, leaving these questions for 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 fresh lead character and explores a new era, maintaining its standalone status. Nevertheless, the franchise's tradition of including cameos and callbacks means we might see familiar faces. Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron, arguably the galaxy's top pilot post-Han Solo, could play a role in rebuilding efforts, potentially assisting Gosling's character.
Chewbacca's current activities, whether still with Rey or pursuing his own path, could intersect with the film's narrative, especially if Gosling ends up piloting the Millennium Falcon. John Boyega's Finn, hinted to be a leader among defecting Stormtroopers in The Rise of Skywalker, might also return, especially if the film deals with First Order remnants.
Rey's appearance in Starfighter would depend on Gosling's character being a Jedi, given her role in rebuilding the Jedi Order. Lucasfilm's plans for Rey suggest she might not feature prominently in Starfighter.
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.
For 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.
