The galaxy far, far away is about to enter an era unlike anything Star Wars fans have seen before. After years of streaming dominance, Lucasfilm is preparing to bring the franchise back to theaters with projects that deliberately steer away from the Skywalker Saga, reshaping the brand’s cinematic identity.
The first step comes in 2026 with Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu, marking Star Wars’ big-screen return for the first time since J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode IX–The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. While Lucasfilm has not clarified whether this project will continue the Disney+ series or serve as a finale in place of a fourth season, fans expect the film to close out Din Djarin and Din Grogu’s story, particularly with Pedro Pascal’s packed schedule. Dave Filoni’s crossover feature may still offer further appearances from characters like Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson), Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law), and Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison).
It’s been more than a year since The Mandalorian and Grogu was revealed, and anticipation has already shifted to Lucasfilm’s next major release. At Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Tokyo, Shawn Levy joined Ryan Gosling, Kathleen Kennedy, and Dave Filoni to confirm Star Wars: Starfighter, slated for May 28, 2027.
According to StarWars.com, “Set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Gosling will play a brand-new character teased by the actor’s appearance on stage.”
The site added: “One of several theatrical projects still in development from Lucasfilm, including films by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and a new trilogy by Simon Kinberg, Levy’s film–Star Wars: Starfighter–will star Gosling and go into production starting this fall.”
Starfighter is already building a massive ensemble. Mia Goth (Pearl) and Matt Smith (Caught Stealing) had been confirmed as villains, but new additions include Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams. Flynn Gray, who will headline the film alongside Gosling, appears to solidify rumors of a Jedi-Padawan storyline.
Rather than spotlight Rey Skywalker, the story will focus on fresh characters navigating the galaxy after Emperor Palpatine’s defeat and the First Order’s downfall. Disney emphasized the originality in its press release, calling Starfighter “an entirely original story set in a period of time never before explored” and describing it as “an all-new standalone adventure.”
Shawn Levy echoed that direction, sharing, “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.”
For longtime fans, the Jedi-Padawan angle carries weight. Insider Daniel Richtman described the premise on Patreon (via The Direct): “A Jedi (played by Ryan Gosling) trains his 15-year-old nephew as his Padawan. They’re on a mission while being pursued by two villains–one male, one female,” he wrote. “The Padawan’s mother also plays an important role in the story, and there’s another major female character as well.”
Richtman later revealed more casting details: “The news of Star Wars: Starfighter‘s latest casting comes from entertainment insider Daniel Richtman’s Patreon, which revealed that the lead of Shawn Levy’s film has been found and that they are a ‘young child actor,'” The Direct reported. “The young star will appear alongside Ryan Gosling.”
This approach moves away from speculation that Daisy Ridley’s Rey would drive the next Jedi-centric arc. While Gosling and Gray as Jedi and Padawan has not been confirmed by Lucasfilm, Levy’s history with projects like Stranger Things, The Adam Project, and Deadpool & Wolverine suggests a balance of heart, humor, and spectacle.
Meanwhile, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s separate New Jedi Order film—centered on Rey rebuilding the Jedi—remains in development but may be delayed to make room for Starfighter. Kinberg’s trilogy is also said to move beyond the Skywalker narrative.
Levy first teased his involvement back in 2023, telling IndieWire: “There’s a Star Wars movie that I’m developing. You never know what’s going to become undeniable and get made next.” At the time, The Hollywood Reporter noted: “It is, however, to be unconnected to the so-called Skywalker Saga, the stories centered on well-established and beloved characters Luke Skywalker and his father, Anakin.”
THR further explained: “It is meant to be a stand-alone movie, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. Lucasfilm had no comment on any impending deal or the project’s details.”
Later, the outlet confirmed the casting: “Ryan Gosling is headed to the great galaxy far, far away. The three-time Oscar nominee is in negotiations to topline the Star Wars feature project that will be directed by Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker Shawn Levy.”
Additional reporting from Daniel Richtman (via Comic Book Movie) claimed that “it may start shooting as early as this Fall in the UK,” while THR backed this up: “If a deal makes, the project would continue to fly like the Millennium Falcon, becoming not only Levy’s next movie but also the next Star Wars movie to go into production, with cameras potentially rolling this fall.”
Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy clarified how the project fits within the larger landscape, telling Deadline: “Shawn’s is a standalone Star Wars story that’ll take place post-nine, maybe five or six years out. And Mandalorian really stands on its own because there, we’re dealing with a whole other era in the New Republic.”
She added: “We have other development going on in that space as well. So that’s the space that we’re pretty much focused on right at the moment because, obviously, with Mandalorian, we have a pretty good sense of where that’s going. And with this, it’s all pretty much new characters. We may bring some of the characters back from the sequel saga, but pretty much new characters.”
Lucasfilm’s broader slate also includes James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi, Dave Filoni’s Mandalorian-era crossover, and potentially Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron. Taika Waititi’s project remains delayed, while Simon Kinberg’s trilogy is in its earliest stages.
With The Mandalorian and Grogu arriving in 2026 and Starfighter following in 2027, Disney is signaling renewed commitment to theatrical releases, in line with Bob Iger’s stated emphasis on prioritizing the big-screen experience over streaming saturation.
How do you feel about Lucasfilm prioritizing a new era of Star Wars storytelling? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
