The biggest news from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was undoubtedly the announcement that Deadpool & Wolverine's Shawn Levy is set to direct Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone, live-action film featuring Ryan Gosling in the lead role. Starfighter is slated to be the next Star Wars film after 2026's The Mandalorian and Grogu, with production kicking off this fall and a planned release date of May 28, 2027. While details about the plot remain scarce, Lucasfilm has confirmed that the film is set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, making it the furthest point in the Star Wars timeline explored in a movie or series to date.
This period of Star Wars lore remains largely unexplored, which leaves room for speculation about what might be happening in the galaxy. Given the ending of The Rise of Skywalker and the insights from the pre-Disney Legends universe, we can start to ponder the significant questions that Starfighter may address.
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 series of games from the PS2/Xbox era. The original Star Wars: Starfighter, released in 2001, and its sequel, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter, released in 2002, are set during the events of Episodes I and II, respectively. While the new movie shares the name, it is unlikely to borrow much from the games' plots due to the significant time gap. However, the film might draw inspiration from the ship-to-ship combat seen in Jedi Starfighter, which included Force powers like shields and lightning. This could add an exciting dimension to the film's action sequences, especially if Gosling's character is both a Jedi and a skilled pilot.
The Fate of the New Republic
The Rise of Skywalker concludes with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and his 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 in The Force Awakens is still unclear. The Sequel Trilogy has primarily focused on the conflict between Leia's Resistance and the First Order, leaving the New Republic's status post-leadership loss largely unexplored.
In the era of Star Wars: Starfighter, the New Republic might still exist, albeit in a weakened state. The novel Star Wars: Bloodline highlights the internal conflicts between Populists and Centrists within the New Republic, which could persist as the government attempts to rebuild. Additionally, remnants of the First Order might still be active, potentially rallying around a surviving leader. The galaxy could be in the midst of a power struggle, setting the stage for the epic space battles that Star Wars fans love. The rise in piracy, as shown in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, could further complicate matters, providing a chaotic backdrop for Gosling's character, who might be a New Republic pilot striving to restore order or a local defender protecting their world. This narrative could serve as a replacement for Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie, and Starfighter might focus on the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker rather than introducing a new overarching conflict.
Rebuilding the Jedi Order
Luke Skywalker's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order were thwarted by the destruction of his temple by Ben Solo, who became Kylo Ren. While many Jedi died in the attack, it's plausible that some survived, much like after Order 66. The status of characters like Ahsoka Tano, who was heard among the Force ghosts at the end of The Rise of Skywalker but hinted to be alive by Dave Filoni, remains uncertain.
Rey Skywalker is set to continue Luke's legacy and rebuild the Jedi Order in the upcoming New Jedi Order movie, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Whether Starfighter will explore the current state of the Jedi depends on whether Gosling's character is Force-sensitive. If so, Rey might appear to mentor him, but if not, the film might focus on non-Jedi heroes, similar to Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Are the Sith Still Around?
With Palpatine's final defeat in The Rise of Skywalker, the question arises whether the Sith are truly extinct. The Expanded Universe and Star Wars Legends suggest that new Sith Lords could emerge post-Palpatine, as seen in the rise of Darth Krayt in the Star Wars: Legacy comics. The Prequel Trilogy and The Clone Wars series demonstrated that Palpatine had multiple Dark Side rivals, hinting that other dark forces might seize the power vacuum left by Palpatine's death. Whether Starfighter will delve into the Sith's current state remains to be seen, especially if Gosling's character isn't a Jedi.
Could Poe Dameron or Other Sequel Trilogy Characters Return?
Star Wars: Starfighter introduces a new lead character and is set in an unexplored period, yet the franchise is known for its cameos and callbacks. Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron, a renowned pilot and hero, seems a likely candidate to appear, potentially aiding in the galaxy's rebuilding efforts. Chewbacca might also return, possibly still with Rey or perhaps as a copilot to Gosling's character on the Millennium Falcon. John Boyega's Finn could make a comeback, especially if the film deals with remnants of the First Order, given his role in inspiring deserting Stormtroopers. Rey's appearance would depend on whether Gosling's character is a Jedi, as Lucasfilm has other plans for her character.
Which surviving character from The Rise of Skywalker would you most like to see in Star Wars: Starfighter? Cast your vote in our poll and let us know in the comments below.
AnswerSee ResultsFor more on the future of the Star Wars franchise, find out why Lucasfilm needs to stop announcing movies and just make them, and brush up on every Star Wars movie and series in development.
