"Star Wars: Starfighter - Plot and Timeline Revealed"

The biggest highlight from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was the announcement that Deadpool & Wolverine’s Shawn Levy is directing Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone, live-action film featuring Ryan Gosling. Set to be released on May 28, 2027, following the 2026 release of The Mandalorian and Grogu, Starfighter's production is slated to begin this fall. This movie will be set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, making it the furthest along the Star Wars timeline of any film or series to date.

While plot details for Starfighter are scarce, this setting opens up a vast canvas of unexplored Star Wars lore. Post-Rise of Skywalker, the galaxy's state and the fate of the New Republic remain largely uncharted. The New Republic, already weakened by internal strife and the devastating blow from the First Order's Starkiller Base, might be struggling to reestablish itself. The novel Star Wars: Bloodline depicts the political tensions between the Populists and Centrists, suggesting ongoing turmoil. Additionally, remnants of the First Order could still pose a threat, potentially rallying under a new leader following Kylo Ren's demise.

Starfighter's setting also hints at a power struggle in the galaxy, ripe for epic space battles. The rise in piracy and lawlessness, as seen in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, adds another layer of chaos. Ryan Gosling's character could be a New Republic pilot striving to restore order, possibly filling the narrative void left by Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron movie. Alternatively, he might be a local defender of a planet trying to fend for itself without Republic aid, or even an ex-First Order trooper like Finn.

As a standalone movie, Starfighter is unlikely to kickstart a new major conflict akin to the Rebels vs. Empire or Resistance vs. First Order battles. Instead, it might focus on the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker, exploring how a villain exploits the current power vacuum in the galaxy.

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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 in 2002, are set during the events of Episodes I and II, respectively. Although the new movie shares the name, it is set many decades later, so direct plot influences from the games are unlikely. However, the movie could adopt the ship-to-ship combat style seen in Jedi Starfighter, which included Force powers like shields, lightning, and shockwaves. If Gosling's character is a Jedi and a skilled pilot, this could enhance the film's action sequences.

The Fate of the New Republic

The Rise of Skywalker concludes with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, but leaves the state of the galaxy after the Battle of Exegol ambiguous. The New Republic's future is uncertain following the destruction of Hosnian Prime and the loss of its leadership. Most Sequel-era projects have concentrated on the Resistance's fight against the First Order, leaving the New Republic's recovery in the shadows. Starfighter could explore a weakened New Republic still grappling with internal and external threats, potentially showing a galaxy rife with power struggles and lawlessness.

Rebuilding the Jedi Order

Luke Skywalker's attempt to rebuild the Jedi Order was thwarted by Ben Solo's turn to the dark side and the destruction of the Jedi Temple. While many Jedi were killed, it's plausible that some survived, much like after Order 66. Ahsoka Tano's status remains a mystery, despite her voice being heard among the Force ghosts at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, and Dave Filoni has hinted that Ahsoka isn’t dead. Rey Skywalker's mission to revive the Jedi Order, set to be explored in the New Jedi Order movie directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, occurs a decade after Starfighter. Whether Starfighter addresses the Jedi's current state may hinge on whether Gosling's character is Force-sensitive. If so, Rey might appear to mentor this promising pilot.

Are the Sith Still Around?

With Palpatine's definitive demise in The Rise of Skywalker, the question of the Sith's persistence looms. The Expanded Universe suggests that the Sith could return, as seen with Darth Krayt in the Star Wars: Legacy comics. Even without calling themselves Sith, Dark Side practitioners could emerge to exploit the power vacuum left by Palpatine. Whether Starfighter will delve into this depends on Gosling's character's involvement with the Force. If he isn't a Jedi, the film might bypass Sith-related themes, leaving them 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?

While Starfighter introduces a new lead and is a standalone, Star Wars films often include cameos. Poe Dameron, portrayed by Oscar Isaac, seems a likely candidate due to his piloting skills and heroic status. Chewbacca's current activities, whether still with Rey or on his own, could tie back to the Skywalker Saga. Finn, played by John Boyega, might return if the film deals with First Order remnants, given his role in inspiring deserters. Rey's appearance might depend on Gosling's character's Force sensitivity. Although Lando Calrissian, Luke Skywalker's Force Ghost, and the iconic droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are fan favorites, their inclusion would depend on the story's direction.

Which surviving character from The Rise of Skywalker would you most like to see in Star Wars: Starfighter? Let us know your thoughts in the comments 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 with every Star Wars movie and series in development.