"Star Wars: Starfighter - Plot and Timeline Details Revealed"

The biggest news from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was undoubtedly the announcement that Deadpool & Wolverine's Shawn Levy is set to direct Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone live-action film featuring Ryan Gosling. Slated to hit theaters on May 28, 2027, following 2026's The Mandalorian and Grogu, Starfighter promises to be the next cinematic journey in the Star Wars saga. Notably, production is slated to kick off this fall, and the film will take place approximately five years after the events depicted in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This places Starfighter further along the Star Wars timeline than any previous movie or series, venturing into uncharted territory within the galaxy far, far away.

While details about the plot remain scarce, we do know that Starfighter will explore a period of Star Wars lore that has yet to be fully fleshed out. The end of The Rise of Skywalker leaves many questions unanswered, particularly about the state of the galaxy and the fate of its key factions. Let's delve into these lingering questions and consider how Starfighter might address them.

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The Star Wars: Starfighter Games

It's worth noting that Star Wars: Starfighter shares its title with a series of video games from the early 2000s, including the original Star Wars: Starfighter (2001) and its sequel, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter (2002). These games, set during Episodes I and II, focused on different pilots and their battles. Although the new movie shares the name, it is unlikely to draw heavily from the games' plots due to its setting decades later. However, the film could adopt the ship-to-ship combat style seen in Jedi Starfighter, which introduced Force powers into aerial combat. This could add a unique flair to the movie's action sequences, especially if Gosling's character is both a Jedi and a skilled pilot.

The Fate of the New Republic

At the end of The Rise of Skywalker, the galaxy has defeated Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, but the fate of the New Republic remains ambiguous. The destruction of Hosnian Prime by the First Order's Starkiller Base in The Force Awakens left the New Republic in disarray. Subsequent projects have focused on the Resistance vs. First Order conflict, leaving the state of the New Republic largely unexplored.

In Starfighter, we might see a weakened New Republic struggling to rebuild amidst internal conflicts between Populists and Centrists, as depicted in the novel Star Wars: Bloodline. Additionally, remnants of the First Order could still be active, reminiscent of the Imperial Remnant post-Endor. The film could explore a power struggle in the galaxy, setting the stage for epic space battles. With piracy on the rise, as shown in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, the lawlessness in the galaxy's fringes could also play a significant role. Gosling's character might be a New Republic pilot working to restore order, a local hero defending his world, or even an ex-First Order trooper, filling a narrative void left by Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie.

As a standalone film, Starfighter is unlikely to establish a new overarching conflict but rather delve into the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker, focusing on a villain exploiting the galaxy's power vacuum.

Rebuilding the Jedi Order -------------------------

Luke Skywalker's dream of rebuilding the Jedi Order was shattered when Ben Solo turned to the dark side, destroying the Jedi Temple and joining the First Order as Kylo Ren. While many Jedi perished in the attack, it's conceivable that some survived, much like after Order 66. The status of Ahsoka Tano during this period remains a mystery, though her voice was heard among the Force ghosts in The Rise of Skywalker, and Dave Filoni has hinted that she's still alive.

Rey Skywalker is set to continue Luke's legacy in the upcoming New Jedi Order film, set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. However, Starfighter could touch on the current state of the Jedi, depending on whether Gosling's character is Force-sensitive. If so, Rey might make a cameo, guiding this new pilot. If not, Starfighter could follow the tradition of films like Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story, focusing on ordinary heroes without delving deeply into Jedi lore.

Are the Sith Still Around?

With Palpatine's definitive demise in The Rise of Skywalker, the question remains: are there any Sith still lurking in the galaxy? The classic Expanded Universe suggests that the Sith could persist beyond Palpatine, with new dark side users emerging. Even if no one claims the title of Sith Lord, the dark side's allure could draw new villains to fill the void left by Palpatine.

Whether Starfighter explores this aspect may hinge on Gosling's character. If he's not a Jedi, the film might not need to delve into Sith lore, leaving such developments for the New Jedi Order movie or Simon Kinberg's Star Wars trilogy.

Could Poe Dameron or Other Sequel Trilogy Characters Return? ------------------------------------------------------------

As a standalone film, Star Wars: Starfighter introduces a fresh lead character and explores a new era, yet Star Wars has a tradition of including cameos and callbacks. Poe Dameron, portrayed by Oscar Isaac, seems a prime candidate for a return, given his reputation as the galaxy's best pilot and his role in rebuilding efforts. Chewbacca might also make an appearance, possibly as Gosling's co-pilot on the Millennium Falcon.

John Boyega's Finn could reappear if the film involves remnants of the First Order, exploring his role in inspiring defecting Stormtroopers. Rey's involvement would depend on whether Gosling's character is a Jedi, aligning with her mission to rebuild the Jedi Order.

Which surviving character from The Rise of Skywalker would you most like to see in Star Wars: Starfighter? Let us know in the comments below.

Which surviving Star Wars character do you most want to see in the Starfighter movie? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Poe DameronChewbaccaFinnRey SkywalkerLando CalrissianLuke Skywalker's Force GhostC-3PO & R2-D2Other (let us know in the comments)

AnswerSee ResultsFor more on the future of the Star Wars franchise, find out why Lucasfilm needs to stop announcing movies and just make them, and brush up on every Star Wars movie and series in development.