Ryan Gosling to lead new ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ movie, directed by Shawn Levy

Lucasfilm has officially announced Star Wars: Starfighter, a brand-new entry in the iconic franchise starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy.

The film is slated to hit theaters on May 28, 2027, with production scheduled to begin in fall 2025.

The announcement was made during the annual Star Wars Celebration event, where Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and chief creative officer Dave Filoni confirmed the project. This new standalone movie will introduce entirely new characters and is set roughly five years after the events of Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker, continuing the Star Wars cinematic timeline.

While no additional casting has been revealed, the project marks a major shift for Ryan Gosling, who is typically selective with franchise roles. His past ventures into IP, such as Barbie and Blade Runner 2049, were more niche compared to the global reach of Star Wars. For Shawn Levy, Starfighter follows the massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine, which grossed $1.3 billion and became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.

Star Wars: Starfighter will arrive just over a year after The Mandalorian & Grogu, which is due in theaters on May 22, 2026. That film, based on the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian, marks the franchise’s return to theaters after a hiatus since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Fans can expect more announcements as production ramps up later this year.