The upcoming film, titled Star Wars: Starfighter, is set to be released on May 28, 2027, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the original 1977 Star Wars (later officially renamed Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope). This announcement was made at the annual Star Wars Celebration, hosted this year in Chiba, Japan. The project will be directed by Sean Levy, known for his work on Deadpool & Wolverine and Free Guy, with Ryan Gosling taking the lead role.
While details are currently sparse, a presentation by Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and chief creative officer Dave Filoni revealed that Starfighter is slated to begin production in fall 2025. The storyline will be set approximately five years after the events of 2019’s Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, the final chapter in George Lucas’ originally planned nine-film saga. The press release teases “a brand-new adventure featuring entirely new characters set in a timeline yet to be explored on screen.”
This indicates that the film will not be connected to the 2001 game Star Wars: Starfighter, which is a flight simulator set just before the Battle of Naboo during Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.
The decision to venture beyond the Skywalker Saga may be divisive among fans, akin to other theatrical projects that have attempted to break away from the characters introduced in Lucas’ original trilogy. However, advancing the timeline rather than delving into the established nine-film arc with prequels and side stories should provide Levy and his team with creative freedom seldom available to Star Wars creators.
The fast-tracked timeline is a positive indication that Starfighter could indeed make it to release, unlike previous projects that were announced as soon as contracts were signed but lacked substantial story development. Stay tuned for more information as Lucasfilm reveals additional details about the project.
