Star Wars: Starfighter Release Date, Cast, and Story: What’s Confirmed

Star Wars: Starfighter is a standalone theatrical film directed by Shawn Levy, with a new lead character rather than a direct continuation of a familiar hero’s story. Its release date, key filmmakers, and main cast are public, but Lucasfilm has only shared a glimpse of the story. The film’s premise has also gained a few details since its first announcement, though much of the plot remains unknown.

Ryan Gosling has been announced as the lead character in the new film. His character has a troubled past and a link to the fastest starfighter ever built, but not much else has been confirmed about the film. Let’s take a look at what we know so far.

Star Wars: Starfighter release date, timeline, and standalone status

Lucasfilm has set the U.S. theatrical release for May 28, 2027. That date falls on the 50th anniversary weekend of the original Star Wars movie, which opened in 1977. The film is also set for an IMAX release and will be shown in IMAX 70mm at select locations.

Starfighter is a standalone story with a new lead

Lucasfilm describes the movie as an “all-new standalone adventure” and an original story. That means you shouldn’t expect it to pick up directly from one character’s storyline in the Skywalker Saga. A new lead and fresh story may make it easier for newcomers to jump in, even though the film still takes place in the same galaxy.

Standalone doesn’t mean cut off from the rest of Star Wars. The film’s place in the franchise timeline connects it to events that came before, but Lucasfilm hasn’t announced whether familiar characters will appear.

The initial announcement described Starfighter as a story set in a period the franchise hadn’t explored on screen. At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in August, the reported timeline for the movie is about five years after The Rise of Skywalker which places the movie after the Skywalker Saga’s final film, while giving it room to tell a new story.

Star Wars: Starfighter cast

Ryan Gosling stars as Kade Auberon, a character Lucasfilm describes as a cynical rogue with a mysterious past. At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, Gosling offered one more clue: Kade comes from the “wrong side” of the galaxy, and his fate is tied to the fastest starfighter ever built, a decommissioned Imperial G17. That gives the lead a clear link to the films title, but it doesn’t spell out his goal.

The cast also includes Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, Flynn Gray, and Amy Adams. Lucasfilm hasn’t announced character names for these cast members or explained how their roles connect.

Production Team

Shawn Levy directs Starfighter and also produces it with former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. Levy’s credits include Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine and Free Guy. The screenplay is written by Jonathan Tropper with Ryan Gosling, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Dave Filoni, and Dan Levine as executive producers.

Production began in the United Kingdom in August 2025.

Star Wars: Starfighter’s story

The plot for Star Wars: Starfighter has not been fully revealed. According to Lucasfilm, Ryan Gosling’s character Kade will be pulled into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy after his past catches up with him. The only other information we have about the movie is that Kade will be connected to the fastest starfighter ever built.

Kade Auberon is a new central character, and Lucasfilm has billed the film as an original standalone adventure. That gives the story space to show a different corner of the galaxy without asking viewers to follow a direct sequel to a familiar hero’s arc. The details of Kade’s character and the people around him are still under wraps.

Lucasfilm has shared the lead’s name, a short premise, and clues about a fast starfighter, but not the full story or supporting characters’ roles. As more information about the film becomes available from Lucasfilm, we’ll be sure to update you.

Star Wars: Starfighter arrives in theaters on May 28, 2027.