The Star Wars franchise finally got a huge star in its kitty after Ryan Gosling was confirmed to headline a new movie in the sci-fi franchise. Directed by Shawn Levy, the upcoming movie is titled Starfighter and is set to release in 2027, after next year’s The Mandalorian and Grogu movie with Pedro Pascal.
The sci-fi franchise has been concentrating on its streaming offerings for the past few years after Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. Lucasfilm seems to be focusing on the big screen again after a series of Disney+ shows that did not do as well as expected. With Ryan Gosling at the center, Starfighter is sure to be an interesting project.
1. Ryan Gosling will be playing a protector in Star Wars: Starfighter
Ryan Gosling was a surprise announcement at this year’s Star Wars Celebration event in Tokyo. The actor has been circling a Marvel role for quite some time, and with Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter on the horizon, it is possible that Gosling may not make his MCU debut anytime soon.
Much like The Mandalorian, the upcoming movie will reportedly see Gosling’s Starfighter pilot be in charge of protecting and aiding in the transport of his young nephew as multiple other antagonists pursue him. Though there is no confirmation on who the actor is, THR reported that casting was underway.
Shawn Levy is known for his heartfelt storylines, which even in a genre-setting work wonders. He has directed kids before in shows like Stranger Things and in the Ryan Reynolds starrer The Adam Project. This storyline might just be up his alley, and Gosling’s recent action-heavy roles make him the perfect fit for this.
2. Mia Goth will be playing one of the antagonists in Starfighter
The most recent update on Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter is that scream queen Mia Goth has been cast in the movie as an antagonist. She will reportedly be playing one of the pursuers of Ryan Gosling’s character’s nephew as the duo travels across the galaxy to escape them. Another male antagonist is yet to be cast.
Goth’s casting was revealed by Jeff Sneider in his podcast, after which it was confirmed by THR. The role was initially offered to Mikey Madison, who is currently basking in her Oscar glory after winning Best Actress for Anora. This would be Mia Goth’s first role in a major franchise after she gained fame for the horror trilogy X, Pearl, and MaXXXine.
Goth will also be appearing in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey next year in an undisclosed role. Her upcoming release includes Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. The actress is known for her roles in films like Emma, and she has also co-written Pearl.
3. Starfighter will not have any connection to the Skywalker Saga
Apart from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, no other standalone movie in the franchise has worked critically or commercially. Fans have often criticized the franchise for being afraid to move beyond the Skywalker saga, as even the sequel trilogy brought back Luke Skywalker and made Rey a Skywalker in the end.
However, Shawn Levy mentioned that Starfighter will have no connection to the three sets of trilogies, as it was its own standalone adventure. He said (via THR),
This 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.
There have been rumors about the film featuring some characters from the sequel trilogy, with many speculating that it could be John Boyega’s Finn. However, there are no confirmations.
4. Shawn Levy will reunite with his The Adam Project writer for Starfighter
After delivering a billion-dollar hit with Deadpool & Wolverine last year, which united Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman on screen and introduced them in the MCU, Shawn Levy has become one of the most sought-after directors in town. He has worked on multiple things before, but he seems to be on his biggest streak yet.
With the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, Levy is reportedly tapping into his The Adam Project writer, Jonathan Tropper, for the screenplay. The duo has also collaborated on Levy’s comedy drama This is Where I Leave You, which was based on Tropper’s novel. The writer is also known for being the creator and showrunner of Banshee and the Apple TV+ series Your Friends and Neighbors.
5. Ryan Gosling’s Starfighter will release in May 2027
The Star Wars franchise seems to be back to focusing on big-screen adventures after having a divisive run on streaming. Though shows like Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew are still set to make comebacks, the Disney+ era of the franchise seems to be in limbo after the end of Andor, The Mandalorian, and The Acolyte.
The coming years will see more movies from Star Wars. Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu is all set to release in May 2026, making it the first movie in the franchise to release since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. A film from James Mangold focused on the Jedi is also in development. But Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling’s Starfighter has been on a fast track.
The upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter movie is reported to release in cinemas on May 28, 2027.
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