In terms of galaxy-shaking information, few bulletins can rival Lucasfilm dropping the title of their subsequent big-screen epic: Star Wars: Starfighter. Revealed at Star Wars Celebration Japan earlier this yr, the challenge instantly set the fandom buzzing. In spite of everything, it’s been a protracted eight years since The Rise of Skywalker wrapped up the sequel trilogy in 2019, and followers have been hungry for one more theatrical journey ever since. With The Mandalorian & Grogu lined up for 2026, the next yr guarantees a return to daring new storytelling in that galaxy far, far-off. Let’s dive into what we all know thus far concerning the 2027 launch and why followers throughout the spectrum — from casuals to cosplayers — are cautiously hyped.
The title Starfighter may set off a flashback for some followers to the traditional 2001 LucasArts online game of the identical title. However make no mistake, this isn’t a rehash or reboot of that storyline. Lucasfilm has been crystal clear: this movie is an unique standalone journey, circuitously tied to the Skywalker saga. It’s reportedly set 5 to 6 years after The Rise of Skywalker, planting it firmly in a fertile timeline the place the New Republic continues to be shaky, the First Order is in ruins, and the galaxy is attempting to outline its future. Translation: the proper canvas for recent heroes, surprising villains, and new corners of the universe we haven’t seen earlier than.
Directing duties fall to Shawn Levy, the filmmaker finest recognized for Deadpool & Wolverine, Stranger Issues, and The Adam Challenge. Levy has a fame for weaving collectively motion, humor, and coronary heart—a stability Star Wars has all the time thrived on. Teaming with screenwriter Jonathan Tropper, who beforehand labored with Levy on The Adam Challenge, the duo appears primed to create a narrative that mixes emotional weight with the kinetic area battles implied by that punchy title. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy is producing alongside Levy, whereas lead actor Ryan Gosling can also be credited as an government producer, displaying simply how invested he’s within the galaxy’s subsequent chapter.
Now, let’s discuss forged, as a result of this lineup is stacked with expertise. On the middle is Ryan Gosling, who joins the Star Wars galaxy after his wildly assorted profession, from Drive to Barbie. Followers are already speculating whether or not he’ll embody a traditional reluctant hero archetype or subvert it fully. Standing beside (or maybe throughout from) him are rising and established stars: Flynn Grey, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Chook, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and none aside from Amy Adams.
The villain roster seems to be particularly intriguing. Stories level to Mia Goth stepping right into a dark-side-aligned antagonist function, bringing her horror-film depth to the saga, whereas Matt Smith — lengthy rumored for Star Wars roles up to now — lastly makes his mark, additionally as a villain. The presence of Amy Adams raises eyebrows too: a status star whose precise function stays underneath wraps, sparking wild theories that vary from politician to Jedi mentor.
However right here’s the difficulty: whenever you scan that casting checklist, one factor is painfully clear —the absence of Black ladies. Whereas the movie boasts a various ensemble on paper, Black ladies are nowhere to be present in main or supporting roles. That’s an issue. Star Wars has made strides in illustration —John Boyega’s Finn, Moses Ingram’s Reva Sevander, Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka and Amandal Stenberg enjoying twin roles in The Acolyte. However Black ladies particularly stay virtually invisible within the live-action movies.
This isn’t a brand new problem, it’s a sample. Naomi Ackie’s Jannah appeared in The Rise of Skywalker solely to be sidelined with minimal growth, and we’ve but to see a Black lady protagonist in a Star Wars film. There’s additionally the the issue of the backlash Black actresses obtain when they’re forged in main roles just like the remedy Amandla Stenberg acquired in The Acolyte or Moses Ingram in Obi-Wan Kenobi , which bought so dangerous that her co-star Ewan McGregor needed to hop on social media to talk out on her behalf over the vitriol.
For a franchise that spans galaxies stuffed with aliens, droids, and limitless potentialities, it’s disappointing that Black ladies proceed to be erased from its central tales. Black ladies followers have been holding lightsabers at cons, cosplaying beloved characters, and carrying this fandom for many years. To not see ourselves on the large display screen, as soon as once more, is irritating — and a reminder that even in a galaxy far, far-off, illustration work is unfinished enterprise. The movie continues to be in growth and casting continues to be happening, so hopefully we’ll hear extra names quickly that includes actresses of coloration. The jury continues to be out on this one.
It’s price noting that Star Wars: Starfighter is only one piece of Lucasfilm’s broader theatrical comeback technique. The Mandalorian & Grogu arrives in 2026, whereas movies centered on Rey’s new Jedi Order, the Daybreak of the Jedi period, and Dave Filoni’s New Republic crossover occasion are all in numerous levels of growth. What makes Starfighter distinctive is its promise of utterly unique characters and storylines, unmoored from the legacy arcs that dominate the opposite introduced movies. In different phrases, that is the Star Wars playground at its most experimental and doubtlessly, its most enjoyable.
For long-time followers, the announcement of Starfighter looks like a breath of recent air. The Skywalker saga will all the time be the backbone of Star Wars, however the galaxy is simply too huge to be outlined by one household alone. With Levy directing, Gosling main, and an ensemble of rising stars, this movie might lastly give us the combo of thrilling area battles, advanced villains, and heartfelt character arcs which have all the time outlined the franchise at its finest.
Most significantly, it alerts Lucasfilm’s willingness to take dangers once more. The title alone guarantees ships hovering by way of the celebrities, and if performed proper, Starfighter might be a part of the ranks of fan-favorite standalones like Rogue One. For now, followers are holding their lightsabers, popcorn, and expectations on the prepared, ready for the primary trailer to provide us that goosebump-inducing glimpse into what’s subsequent.
Star Wars: Starfighter lands in theaters on Might 28, 2027, and whereas particulars are nonetheless scarce, the puzzle items we’ve got counsel a daring new chapter for the saga. Authentic story? Verify. Stellar forged? Double verify. A director with a confirmed knack for style enjoyable? Completely. The hype is actual, however so is the skepticism. As all the time in Star Wars fandom, we stability each—as a result of we’ve been burned, however we’ve additionally been blown away. Right here’s hoping Levy and his crew ship the type of movie that reminds us why we fell in love with Star Wars within the first place—and at last opens the door wider for the Black ladies followers who’ve been holding it down for many years.
Might the Pressure (and the accountability) be with Starfighter.