After releasing five Star Wars movies in as many years, Disney halted live-action films set in that galaxy far, far away in 2019, relegating the franchise to the small screen and its then-burgeoning Disney+ streaming platform. Star Wars returns to theaters next summer with The Mandalorian & Grogu, which will be followed by Star Wars: Starfighter the following year – the 50th anniversary of the original 1977 film.
A New Hope will be getting its own theatrical re-release – and you know I will be there – but one can’t help but feel that there’s a lot riding on Starfighter. Helmed by Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine), written by Jonathan Tropper (Your Friends & Neighbors) and starring Ryan Gosling, Starfighter officially takes us past 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker in a few different ways. It’s completely separate from the Skywalker Saga, and it introduces us to an all-new era filled with new characters, new locations and new stories. So, what can we expect?
The film is set five years after the Battle of Exegol. Palpatine is gone (despite returning somehow), the Resistance is triumphant, the First Order is toast and Rey Skywalker is out there, somewhere in the universe, carrying the Jedi legacy forward. What do heroes and villains look and act like now that the ultimate evil in the galaxy has been defeated for good?
This is a stand-alone movie. Unlike the interconnected Disney+ shows that might feel like they require a degree in Star Wars to keep up, Starfighter won’t require any homework, at least based on what we know so far. Although if it’s successful, it won’t be a “stand-alone” movie for long.
The cast is stacked. Joining Ryan Gosling are Mia Goth (Pearl, X, MaXXXine) and the 11th Doctor himself, Matt Smith, who was cast in The Rise of Skywalker but did not appear in the actual film. Both will reportedly play villains.
It’s less than two years away. Mark your calendars and stay on target! Star Wars: Starfighter is blasting into theaters May 28, 2027.
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