Star Wars’ Next Movie: Everything We Already Know About Starfighter

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Next year is shaping up to be a huge one for Star Wars, marking 50 years since the first film! While The Mandalorian and Grogu recently brought the franchise back to the big screen, the real celebration begins next year with events like Star Wars Celebration in Los Angeles and a return to the original theatrical cut of A New Hope. Plus, we’ll finally see Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy, which was delayed due to the 2023 writers’ strikes. Season 2 of Ahsoka is also on the way, making next year a truly special time to be a Star Wars fan.

Right now, Lucasfilm is focused on The Mandalorian and Grogu. However, the new Starfighter movie is already generating a lot of excitement as a potential reboot of the franchise, especially since it’s being released during the anniversary year. There’s even talk that a trailer is ready to be shown. Here’s a rundown of everything we know about the upcoming Star Wars film.

When Star Wars: Starfighter Will Release

The new Star Wars movie, Starfighter, will premiere in North America on May 28, 2027, as revealed at Star Wars Celebration 2025. Director Shawn Levy first discussed the project in November 2022, but production was put on hold by the 2023 writers’ strikes. Jonathan Tropper joined as the writer in July 2024, and filming took place from August to December 2025. The movie is now in the post-production phase.

Star Wars: Starfighter’s Cast (& What We Know About The Characters)

Starfighter marks the beginning of a new era in the Star Wars universe, introducing a cast of entirely new characters. Here’s a look at who stars in it:

  • Ryan Gosling (Project Hail Mary, The Fall Guy, Barbie) plays the star, a pilot who must protect a younger character against dark enemies. There have been consistent rumors the youngling in question is his nephew.
  • Flynn Gray (Showkids, Wednesday, Sherlock & Daughter) plays the youngling in question, essentially co-star alongside Gosling.
  • Amy Adams (Charlotte’s Web, Enchanted, Man of Steel) is the mother of Flynn Gray’s mystery character, in what sounds to be a Shmi Skywalker-style role.
  • Matt Smith (Doctor Who, House of the Dragon, The Crown) plays the main villain hunting Flynn Gray’s youngling. Smith’s character has been described as an “evil general,” although Lucasfilm has not confirmed that.
  • Mia Goth (Frankenstein, Emma, X) is one of the two villains pursuing Flynn Gray’s mystery character.
  • Aaron Pierre (Lanterns, Genius, Krypton) is believed to have a significant role.
  • Simon Bird (The Inbetweeners, Everyone Else Burns, Friday Night Dinner) has an unconfirmed role, and his comedy background likely means he’ll add humor to the plot.
  • Jamael Westman (The Essex Serpent, Hedda, Good Grief) is a mystery character, but the West End legend’s Star Wars debut has been greeted with excitement.
  • Daniel Ings (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, The Gentleman, The Winter King) has teased familiarity with the film’s ending, describing Starfighter as having a “punk feel” that may reflect his scenes and character.

Star Wars: Starfighter’s Story, Timeline & Franchise Connections

Details about the plot of Star Wars: Starfighter are scarce. It seems to follow the familiar “Chosen One” story, featuring a young character played by Flynn Gray who is pursued across the galaxy by the characters played by Matt Smith and Mia Goth. This “protector and ward on the run” idea has become popular, particularly in Star Wars, and is similar to the formula used in the first two seasons of The Mandalorian. The latest information suggests the story will have huge consequences for the entire galaxy.

In a galaxy slowly recovering from conflict, a lone pilot finds themselves at the center of a vital quest, facing rising dangers. Their actions could change the fate of the Force forever.

The logo for the upcoming Starfighter film, revealed at Star Wars Celebration 2025, intentionally resembles the Jedi symbol. This has sparked speculation that Flynn Gray’s character possesses Force abilities and that Ryan Gosling’s pilot is tasked with bringing him to the Jedi. Rumors continue to suggest Daisy Ridley will return as Rey, and if true, this film could set the stage for the planned trilogy from Simon Kinberg. However, director Shawn Levy has emphasized that Starfighter is meant to be a self-contained story. Levy also revealed he had to significantly revise the film’s ending because certain elements weren’t working, but he feels these changes ultimately strengthened the plot.

When Will The Star Wars: Starfighter Trailer Be Released?

The release date for the full trailer of Star Wars: Starfighter is still unknown. While Lucasfilm has been known to delay marketing campaigns – particularly for The Mandalorian and Grogu and previous Starfighter content – this feels like a fresh start, potentially the biggest Star Wars launch since The Force Awakens in 2015. Disney now tends to begin marketing major films much earlier – for example, trailers for Avengers: Doomsday appeared alongside Avatar: Fire and Ash a year before their release. There’s speculation that a Starfighter trailer is already finished, suggesting we might see a similar long-lead marketing strategy.

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2026-05-24 01:40