Disney's Star Wars Franchise Seeks Fresh Start with 'Starfighter' Film

The Star Wars franchise is set to undergo its most significant creative reset since Disney acquired Lucasfilm nearly five decades ago. The plan centers on Star Wars: Starfighter, an upcoming feature film announced at Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Tokyo. Director Shawn Levy and star Ryan Gosling will lead the project, which promises a clean break from the expectations that came with previous Star Wars films.

According to Lucasfilm, Starfighter takes place roughly five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker (2019) but does not continue that story in any traditional sense. Gosling plays an entirely original character, and Lucasfilm has described the project as 'an all-new standalone adventure.' This framing sets Starfighter apart from every other live-action Star Wars film released under Disney's ownership.

The cast reflects this ambition, with a diverse group of actors joining Gosling in key roles. The film is just one piece of a broader theatrical slate that includes films from Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and a new trilogy from Simon Kinberg. Screenwriter Jonathan Tropper has emphasized the film's standalone positioning, stating, 'There are no barriers to entry. You don't have to have seen other Star Wars movies to step into this one.'

Starfighter is set to premiere on May 28, 2027, exactly 50 years after George Lucas introduced audiences to a galaxy far, far away with the release of Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope (1977). This timing is no coincidence for a studio looking to prove the saga can thrive without its founding family at the center.