Ryan Gosling Stars in Shawn Levy's 'Star Wars: Starfighter' Spinoff, Set After The Rise of Skywalker

By: Shawn
‎From the Mediterranean Sea to the galaxy beyond, director Shawn Levy has unveiled the first glimpse of Star Wars: Starfighter, a new spinoff in the legendary space opera saga. The film stars Ryan Gosling alongside rising actor Flynn Gray in their first outing within the Star Wars universe.
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‎Shawn Levy reveals first look at Star Wars: Starfighter with Ryan Gosling. The spinoff hits theaters May 28, 2027, set after The Rise of Skywalker.
‎Shawn Levy
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‎The behind-the-scenes image shared by Levy shows Gosling and Gray in distressed costumes aboard a small watercraft. Levy captioned the post “Somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea,” tagging Sardinia, Italy, where filming is underway. This ocean setting marks a striking change from the desert landscapes that defined worlds like Tatooine and Jakku in previous installments.
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‎Lucasfilm confirmed that Star Wars: Starfighter will present an entirely original story in an unexplored timeline. The narrative takes place about five years after the conclusion of 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which closed with the Resistance’s triumph. The standalone film will introduce brand-new characters while expanding the mythology of the saga.
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‎The cast features a strong ensemble, including Amy Adams, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, and Daniel Ings. Gosling and Gray will lead the story, with Jonathan Tropper (The Adam Project) penning the screenplay. Levy is also producing alongside Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.
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‎Star Wars: Starfighter is scheduled for release on May 28, 2027. It will arrive one year after The Mandalorian & Grogu, set for May 2026, which will mark the franchise’s return to theaters after seven years.
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‎Production began earlier this fall, with Levy expressing his excitement about joining the saga. “From the day Kathy Kennedy called me up, inviting me to develop an original adventure in this incredible Star Wars galaxy, this experience has been a dream come true, creatively and personally,” Levy said. “Star Wars shaped my sense of what story can do, how characters and cinematic moments can live with us forever. To join this storytelling galaxy with such brilliant collaborators onscreen and off is the thrill of a lifetime.”

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