Let’s be real. It’s been a rough few years for anyone who just wanted to see an X-wing do something cool on a forty-foot screen. We’ve had a lot of "almosts." We had the Rogue Squadron teaser with Patty Jenkins in that flight suit, which basically evaporated into the ether of development hell. But honestly, things are finally shifting. If you've been tracking the rumors, you know the focus has moved. It’s not just about the old guard anymore. The Star Wars Starfighter movie—officially titled Star Wars: Starfighter—is the one actually moving the needle now.
Shawn Levy is at the helm. Yeah, the Deadpool & Wolverine guy. And he’s bringing Ryan Gosling with him.
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People keep confusing this with the old Rogue Squadron project, but they aren’t the same thing. At all. While Jenkins’ project is reportedly being retooled into a series or just sitting on a shelf somewhere at Lucasfilm, Levy’s film is already through the meat of production. Filming wrapped in December 2025. We’re looking at a May 28, 2027 release date. That’s the 50th anniversary of the original movie, by the way. No pressure.
Why Star Wars: Starfighter Isn't Just Another Sequel
Most Star Wars movies are tethered to something we already know. They’re prequels about how the plans were stolen, or sequels about the grandkids of people we met in 1977. This is different. Kathleen Kennedy and Shawn Levy have been pretty vocal about this being a "clean entry point." It’s set about five or six years after The Rise of Skywalker.
The Sith are gone. The First Order is a memory. The galaxy is... what, exactly?
That’s the hook. We’re entering a "post-nine" era that hasn't been touched by the books or the shows yet. It’s a total vacuum. According to Levy, this isn't a story about the Skywalker bloodline. It’s about Captain Rayan Boss, played by Gosling. He’s a veteran pilot, but not the shiny, optimistic kind we saw with Poe Dameron. He’s "battleworn," according to early production leaks, dealing with the literal and figurative wreckage of the wars that came before.
The Top Gun Comparison
You’ve probably heard the Top Gun: Maverick comparisons. It’s a bit of a cliché in film journalism, but here, it might actually fit. The production used IMAX cameras and shot on location in places like Sardinia and Pinewood. They’re going for grit. We’re talking white leather pilot jackets, chrome starfighters, and actual physical sets.
One of the wildest details? Tom Cruise actually showed up on set.
He didn't just visit to grab a coffee with Levy. Reports from the UK set indicate he actually helped film a lightsaber duel in a marshy area. Why? Because the guy loves the craft of action. Having the Mission: Impossible star lending an eye to the cinematography suggests the "high-speed thrill ride" marketing isn't just fluff this time.
The Cast: Who's Actually in the Cockpit?
The lineup for the Star Wars Starfighter movie is surprisingly stacked for a film that’s trying to distance itself from the main saga.
- Ryan Gosling: As Captain Rayan Boss. Expect less "Hey Girl" and more "I’ve seen things you people wouldn't believe."
- Amy Adams: She’s playing Lora Solis. Descriptions call her a "fortune wanderer." She’s got the tan robes and the leather bracers, so she definitely fits the aesthetic.
- Matt Smith: Rumored to be the next big villain. After his turn in House of the Dragon, we know he can do "menacing" in his sleep.
- Mia Goth: Also tipped for a villainous role. If you’ve seen Pearl, you know she can bring an intensity that Star Wars rarely touches.
It’s a weird mix. It feels less like a corporate-mandated ensemble and more like a high-concept sci-fi cast. They also have Aaron Pierre and Flynn Gray in the mix. It’s a group that suggests the movie is leaning into a darker, more grounded tone. Think Rogue One but with more dogfights and fewer Death Stars.
Addressing the Rogue Squadron Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about Patty Jenkins. For a long time, the Star Wars Starfighter movie was thought to be a rebranding of Rogue Squadron. It’s not. Jenkins is still technically "owing" Lucasfilm a script, but the momentum has completely stalled.
There were reports in late 2025 that Rogue Squadron was being pivoted into a Disney+ series. It makes sense. The "flight school" vibe fits a ten-episode arc better than a two-hour movie. But while that project is stuck in the "we're talking about it" phase, Starfighter is in post-production. The visual effects teams are currently working on what Levy calls "large-scale starfighter battles" that haven't been seen on screen since the prequel era.
The Timeline Problem
Some fans are worried about the post-Episode 9 setting. I get it. The sequel trilogy left a lot of people feeling... exhausted. But setting a pilot-centric movie here is actually a genius move. There’s no New Republic (that we know of) and no Empire. It’s just the frontier. It’s basically a Western in space, but instead of horses, they have modified X-wings.
Levy has hinted that we might see some familiar faces from the sequels—maybe a cameo from Rey or Poe—but they aren't the focus. This is a story about the people who have to live in the mess the Skywalkers left behind.
What to Expect Next
We’re currently in the quiet period. Filming wrapped in late 2025, and now the VFX houses are doing the heavy lifting. Don't expect a full trailer until Star Wars Celebration 2026.
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However, keep an eye on The Mandalorian & Grogu, which drops in May 2026. While that movie is set much earlier in the timeline, Lucasfilm loves to plant seeds. We might get our first official look at a "Boss-style" starfighter or a mention of the sector where the movie takes place.
If you're looking to prep for the Star Wars Starfighter movie, the best thing you can do is revisit the 2001 Star Wars: Starfighter game. The movie isn't a direct adaptation—the game was set during the Phantom Menace era—but the spirit is there. It’s about the ship-to-ship combat and the bond between pilots.
- Watch for the 2026 Super Bowl: There’s a high chance for a "special look" or a behind-the-scenes sizzle reel.
- Follow Shawn Levy’s socials: He’s been the primary source of images so far, including those shots of the Mediterranean coastline that will double as a new ocean world.
- Don't get hung up on the "Rogue" name: This is a new legacy starting from scratch.
The wait until May 2027 is long, but for the first time in a decade, it feels like Star Wars is actually ready to fly into something new instead of just circling the same old landing pad.