First look at Ryan Gosling & Flynn Gray hints at nautical danger in ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’

Ryan Gosling is steering the Star Wars universe into uncharted territory. Director Shawn Levy has released a first look at Star Wars: Starfighter featuring Gosling alongside Flynn Gray, in costumes, set against what appears to be a ship deck somewhere off the coast of Sardinia, Italy. The image was shared on Levy’s Instagram with the caption “Somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea.”

The upcoming film is a standalone addition to the Star Wars saga, set five years after The Rise of Skywalker, and will not tie directly into the Skywalker storyline. Lucasfilm has confirmed a strong ensemble cast alongside Gosling and Gray that includes Mia Goth, Matt Smith (the villain role), Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman and Daniel Ings.

Plot details remain deliberately vague. However, Levy has emphasised originality. Fans are especially intrigued by the ocean setting, a divergence from Star Wars’s more familiar desert, forest and space vistas. The still shows Gosling and Gray in rough-weather gear aboard a vessel, suggesting scenes at sea.

Social media has reacted with a mix of excitement and speculation. On Reddit, many users praised the first glimpse, calling the aesthetic “waterborne Star Wars that we didn’t know we needed.” Others questioned how much action will happen on water and whether the ocean elements will change the tone of Star Wars. X is already flooded with fan theories; some predict Gray will be Gosling’s nephew or apprentice based on casting clues.

According to production sources, filming began in the UK, with additional shoots underway in Sardinia. Script work was done by Jonathan Tropper, who has worked with Levy on previous projects. The release date is currently set for 28 May 2027.