The most significant announcement from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was the revelation that Shawn Levy, known for directing Deadpool & Wolverine, will helm Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone live-action film featuring Ryan Gosling. Set to be released on May 28, 2027, following the 2026 film The Mandalorian and Grogu, production for Starfighter is slated to begin this fall. Although details on the plot are scarce, we know the film takes place five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, marking it as the furthest point in the Star Wars timeline explored to date.
The period following The Rise of Skywalker remains largely uncharted in Star Wars lore. While we don't have concrete information, we can speculate based on the ending of The Rise of Skywalker and the pre-Disney Legends universe. Let's delve into the key questions lingering from The Rise of Skywalker and how Starfighter might address them.
Every Upcoming Star Wars Movie and TV Show
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The Star Wars: Starfighter Games
It's worth noting that Star Wars: Starfighter shares its name with a short-lived series of video games from the PS2/Xbox era. The original game, released in 2001, and its sequel, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter from 2002, were set during Episodes I and II, respectively. While the new movie shares the name, it's unlikely to borrow plot points from these games, given its setting many decades later. However, the film could potentially incorporate ship-to-ship combat elements from Jedi Starfighter, especially if Gosling's character is a Jedi pilot utilizing Force powers in battle.
The Fate of the New Republic
The Rise of Skywalker concludes with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, but leaves the state of the galaxy post-Battle of Exegol ambiguous. The New Republic's fate after the destruction of Hosnian Prime by the First Order's Starkiller Base remains unclear. The Sequel Trilogy primarily focuses on the Resistance versus the First Order, leaving the New Republic's recovery and political struggles largely unexplored. In Starfighter, the New Republic might still exist but in a weakened state, grappling with internal conflicts and external threats, including remnants of the First Order and rampant piracy in the galaxy's fringes.
Rebuilding the Jedi Order
Luke Skywalker's attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order was disrupted by Ben Solo's turn to the Dark Side and the subsequent destruction of the Jedi Temple. While many Jedi were killed, it's plausible that some survived, including Ahsoka Tano, whose voice was heard among the Force ghosts in The Rise of Skywalker. Rey Skywalker is set to continue Luke's legacy in a future film set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Whether Starfighter will explore the current state of the Jedi depends largely on Gosling's character's Force sensitivity. If he is a Jedi, we might see Rey in a cameo, but otherwise, the film may focus on non-Jedi heroes.
Are the Sith Still Around?
With Palpatine's final defeat in The Rise of Skywalker, the question arises whether the Sith have truly vanished from the galaxy. The Star Wars Legends universe suggests that Sith Lords could continue to emerge post-Palpatine. While Starfighter might not directly address the Sith, the possibility of other Dark Side users exploiting the power vacuum left by Palpatine's demise remains. The film's focus on Gosling's character could determine whether this aspect of the lore is explored.
Could Poe Dameron or Other Sequel Trilogy Characters Return?
Star Wars: Starfighter introduces a new lead character but, as a standalone film, might still include cameos from familiar faces. Poe Dameron, renowned for his piloting skills, could play a role in the film, especially in efforts to rebuild the New Republic. Chewbacca, possibly still with Rey or on his own adventures, could also appear, perhaps alongside Gosling's character in the iconic Millennium Falcon. Finn, with his history of inspiring Stormtrooper defections, might return if the film involves First Order remnants. Rey's appearance would depend on whether Gosling's character is a Jedi. Each of these characters could bring a nostalgic connection to the Skywalker Saga while enhancing the narrative of Starfighter.
