Star Wars: Starfighter: Everything We Know About the Upcoming Movie

The Star Wars universe is heading into a completely new era with Star Wars: Starfighter, an upcoming standalone movie directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling.

Unlike many recent Star Wars projects, Starfighter will not continue the stories of the Skywalker family. Instead, it will introduce new characters and an original adventure set in a previously unexplored period of the Star Wars timeline.

Lucasfilm has confirmed that the movie will be released exclusively in theaters on May 28, 2027. StarWars.com+1

What Is Star Wars: Starfighter About?

Starfighter is described by Lucasfilm as an all-new standalone adventure.

The story takes place approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This means the film will be set after the events of the Skywalker Saga, but it will focus on a new group of characters. StarWars.com

The story follows Kade Auberon, played by Ryan Gosling. According to official Star Wars information, Kade is a character from the “wrong side of the galaxy” whose fate becomes connected to a mysterious and extremely fast starfighter. StarWars.com

Lucasfilm has also described the film as a story about a cynical rogue whose mysterious past pulls him into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy.

Ryan Gosling Plays Kade Auberon

One of the biggest attractions of the new movie is Ryan Gosling, who makes his Star Wars debut as Kade Auberon.

Gosling’s character is being introduced specifically for this film, meaning he is not a version of an existing Star Wars character.

Lucasfilm revealed more about Kade at the 2026 D23 event, where Gosling appeared alongside director Shawn Levy and gave fans their first major glimpse at the character. StarWars.com

Kade’s journey appears to be central to the movie, with his mysterious past becoming connected to a powerful starfighter and a much larger galactic adventure.

The Starfighter

The movie’s title puts a major focus on a starfighter, and Lucasfilm has teased the aircraft as an important part of Kade’s story.

According to the official description, Kade’s fate becomes connected to the fastest starfighter ever built. StarWars.com

The starfighter could therefore become one of the movie’s most recognizable elements, potentially playing an important role in the film’s action sequences and Kade’s journey.

A New Era After the Skywalker Saga

One of the most interesting aspects of Starfighter is its position in the Star Wars timeline.

The movie takes place about five years after The Rise of Skywalker, which concluded the main Skywalker Saga in 2019.

However, Starfighter is not being presented as another chapter in the Skywalker family story. Instead, it introduces new characters and explores a period of the galaxy that has not previously been shown on screen. The Walt Disney Company

This gives the filmmakers the opportunity to create a fresh story while remaining within the established Star Wars universe.

Star Wars: Starfighter Cast

The confirmed cast includes several major actors.

Ryan Gosling stars as Kade Auberon.

The movie also stars:

• Flynn Gray
• Matt Smith
• Mia Goth
• Aaron Pierre
• Jamael Westman
• Daniel Ings
• Amy Adams

Lucasfilm announced the full principal cast when production began in 2025. StarWars.com+1

The exact identities and roles of several characters have been kept secret, allowing the film’s story to remain largely mysterious.

Shawn Levy Directs

Star Wars: Starfighter is directed by Shawn Levy, the filmmaker behind movies including Deadpool & Wolverine and Free Guy.

Levy has described the project as a major creative opportunity and has said that the film explores themes of hope, family and adventure, while telling a story set in a period of the Star Wars galaxy that has never previously been explored on screen. StarWars.com

The screenplay is written by Jonathan Tropper.

Levy and Kathleen Kennedy are producing the movie, while Ryan Gosling, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Dave Filoni and Dan Levine are executive producers. StarWars.com

Production Has Already Begun

Lucasfilm announced that production on Starfighter began in the United Kingdom in 2025.

The announcement came alongside confirmation of the movie’s full principal cast. StarWars.com

Since then, Lucasfilm has released additional information about the characters and story, including the first official details about Gosling’s character, Kade Auberon.

What Will the Story Be Like?

The full plot is still being kept secret, but Lucasfilm has provided a basic description.

Kade is a cynical rogue whose mysterious past catches up with him and sends him into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy.

The journey places him on a collision course with destiny and connects him to the mysterious starfighter at the center of the story. StarWars.com

This suggests that the movie will combine space action with a more character-focused story.

The film is also expected to include humor, danger, large-scale spectacle and the adventurous spirit associated with Star Wars.

Will Familiar Star Wars Characters Appear?

At present, Starfighter is being presented as a standalone story with all-new characters.

Lucasfilm has not announced appearances by major characters such as Rey, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Han Solo or other familiar members of the Skywalker Saga.

The movie’s official announcements have instead emphasized its original characters and previously unexplored time period. StarWars.com

That does not necessarily reveal everything about the finished movie, but fans should distinguish confirmed information from online rumors.

When Is Star Wars: Starfighter Coming Out?

Star Wars: Starfighter is scheduled to arrive exclusively in theaters on May 28, 2027. StarWars.com

The release date places the movie on Memorial Day weekend in the United States.

Lucasfilm has also highlighted the timing as significant because provided an early look at Ryan Gosling’s Kade Auberon and the overall tone of the film. the film will arrive during the year marking the 50th anniversary period of the original Star Wars movie.

Is There a Trailer?

Lucasfilm has shown promotional footage from the movie at major Disney events, including D23 in 2026.

The footage has provided an early look at Ryan Gosling’s Kade Auberon and the overall tone of the film. StarWars.com+1

A wider public trailer release is separate from these event presentations, so fans should look to official Star Wars channels for the next trailer announcement.

Why Starfighter Is Different

One of the most notable things about Starfighter is that it is not adapting an existing Star Wars story.

The movie is being created as an original standalone adventure with new characters.

Its timeline also allows the filmmakers to explore the galaxy after the Skywalker Saga without simply retelling events from the earlier movies.

That gives the project a different starting point while keeping the familiar elements of Star Wars, including starships, space travel, galactic conflicts and adventure.

Final Thoughts

Star Wars: Starfighter is shaping up to be a new kind of Star Wars movie.

Directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling as Kade Auberon, the film will introduce an original story set approximately five years after The Rise of Skywalker.

The movie will explore a previously unseen period of the galaxy and follow a new character whose mysterious past becomes connected to an extraordinary starfighter.

With a cast that also includes Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Amy Adams and Flynn Gray, the film has assembled a notable group of actors for its new Star Wars adventure. StarWars.com+1

Star Wars: Starfighter is currently scheduled to open exclusively in theaters on May 28, 2027. StarWars.com
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