Star Wars: Starfighter - Plot and Timeline Details Revealed

The biggest revelation from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was that Shawn Levy, renowned for his work on Deadpool & Wolverine, is set to direct Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone live-action film featuring Ryan Gosling. Scheduled to commence production this fall, Starfighter is poised to be the next Star Wars movie after 2026's The Mandalorian and Grogu, with a release date set for May 28, 2027. While the film's plot remains largely under wraps, Lucasfilm has confirmed that Starfighter is set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, making it the furthest forward in the Star Wars timeline explored to date.

This period of Star Wars lore is relatively unexplored, but it provides fertile ground for speculation, particularly regarding the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker. Let's delve into the key questions and potential directions for Starfighter.

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The Star Wars: Starfighter Games

It's worth noting that Star Wars: Starfighter shares its title with a series of games released during the PS2/Xbox era. The original Star Wars: Starfighter, released in 2001, and its sequel, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter in 2002, were set during the events of Episodes I and II, respectively. While the new movie shares the name, it's unlikely to directly adapt the plots of these games, given its setting many decades later. However, it could draw inspiration from Jedi Starfighter's ship-to-ship combat and integration of Force powers, potentially featuring Gosling's character as a Jedi pilot, enhancing the film's action sequences.

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 fate of the New Republic, devastated by the First Order's Starkiller Base in The Force Awakens, remains a mystery. Subsequent Star Wars projects have focused on the Resistance versus the First Order, leaving the New Republic's status unclear. Starfighter might explore a weakened New Republic, struggling to regroup amid internal conflicts between Populists and Centrists, as detailed in the novel Star Wars: Bloodline. Additionally, remnants of the First Order could still exist, rallying around a surviving leader, setting the stage for a power struggle in the galaxy, ripe for epic space battles. The ongoing piracy issues, highlighted in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, could further complicate the New Republic's efforts to restore order.

Gosling's character might be a New Republic pilot striving to restore law and order, potentially filling the role envisioned for Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron movie. Alternatively, he could be a local defender or an ex-First Order trooper, similar to John Boyega's Finn. Given Starfighter's standalone nature, it's more likely to focus on the immediate aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker rather than setting up a new overarching conflict.

Rebuilding the Jedi Order

Luke Skywalker's attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order was thwarted by Ben Solo's turn to the dark side, leading to the destruction of his temple. However, not all Jedi may have perished, and the question remains about the current state of the Jedi post-Rise of Skywalker. Ahsoka Tano's presence in the Force ghosts at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, coupled with Dave Filoni's hints that she's still alive, adds intrigue. Meanwhile, Daisy Ridley's Rey Skywalker is set to continue Luke's legacy in the New Jedi Order movie, set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Whether Starfighter will address the Jedi depends on if Gosling's character is Force-sensitive. If so, Rey might make a cameo to mentor him; if not, the film might focus on non-Jedi heroes, similar to Rogue One and Solo.

Are the Sith Still Around?

With Palpatine's definitive demise in The Rise of Skywalker, the question arises whether any Sith remain. The Expanded Universe suggests that new Sith Lords could emerge, as seen in Star Wars: Legacy. The galaxy might still harbor dark side users, whether formally Sith or not, possibly including surviving members of the Knights of Ren or another of Luke's fallen pupils. However, Starfighter's focus might not necessitate delving into this unless Gosling's character is a Jedi, potentially leaving such exploration for future projects like the New Jedi Order movie or Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars trilogy.

Could Poe Dameron or Other Sequel Trilogy Characters Return?

As a standalone film, Star Wars: Starfighter introduces a new lead character in a previously unseen period. Yet, Star Wars is known for its cameos and callbacks. Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron, known as the galaxy's top pilot, could return, possibly aiding in the New Republic's reconstruction. Chewbacca might also appear, potentially piloting the Millennium Falcon with Gosling's character. John Boyega's Finn could feature if the film involves First Order remnants, given his role in inspiring defecting Stormtroopers. Rey's involvement would hinge on whether Gosling's character is a Jedi, though Lucasfilm has other plans for her character in future projects.

Which surviving character from The Rise of Skywalker would you most like to see in Star Wars: Starfighter? Share your thoughts below.

For more on the future of the Star Wars franchise, explore why Lucasfilm needs to stop announcing movies and just make them, and stay updated on every Star Wars movie and series in development.