Lucasfilm shocked audiences with the announcement of Kathleen Kennedy's Star Wars movie roundup had even hinted that Levy's movie would be coming sooner than we expected.

Yet few had guessed that Levy's movie would be the next to be released of The Mandalorian and Grogu, and the title Starfighter was entirely unknown. Even now, very few story details are known about Starfighter. Here's everything we know about Shawn Levy's Star Wars movie, Starfighter, after the Star Wars Celebration announcement.

Shawn Levy's Movie Is Officially Called Star Wars: Starfighter

The Movie Is The Next To Be Released After The Mandalorian And Grogu

At Star Wars Celebration 2025, the title of Shawn Levy's movie was confirmed to be Starfighter, which already offers some hints about what this Star Wars movie may entail. Presumably, the story will center on at least one pilot, and it seems safe to assume pilots will be the focal point in general, based just on the title. This is also interesting as a first-of-its-kind movie title in the franchise, given the Skywalker Saga had an entirely different naming convention, and both Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story shared a subtitle.

The Mandalorian and Grogu has a unique title as well, although it is more in line with recent TV show titles in Star Wars, such as Ahsoka, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Andor. The Mandalorian and Grogu also has an interesting link to Starfighter, as Starfighter is confirmed to be following on the heels of Star Wars' next movie. The Mandalorian and Grogu's release date is May 22, 2026, and Starfighter's is May 28, 2027.

Ryan Gosling Is Starring, Presumably As A Force-Sensitive Pilot

Gosling's Casting Was Rumored But Has Now Been Confirmed

As mentioned, Ryan Gosling is confirmed to be the star of Starfighter. Although other details, such as his character's name or really even his role, remain unknown, this news is thrilling enough. Gosling is a major actor, and it will be fascinating to see him step into a franchise like Star Wars and make it his own.

It will also be interesting to see how audiences react to Gosling in this role. Because he is such a big name in Hollywood, there will no doubt be polarizing responses to this casting decision. This is especially true because Star Wars is known for its fickle fandom. Even so, Gosling's acting chops mean Starfighter is primed to be a brilliant addition to Star Wars movies and TV shows.

Starfighter Is Set Five Years After The Rise Of Skywalker

This Will Be The First Movie Set In This New Era

One of the most interesting aspects of this new Star Wars movie is the time period in which it is set. Starfighter will officially take place a few years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This means that Starfighter will explore a point in the Star Wars timeline that has yet to be depicted on screen—and it will therefore define (or at least lay the foundation for) the era to come.

This is particularly interesting given many had been expecting Rey's Star Wars movie, rumored to be titled Star Wars: New Jedi Order, to do that. It's unclear at this point what Starfighter means for New Jedi Order, but Gosling's movie hasn't necessarily changed Star Wars' plan for Rey's story. New Jedi Order was confirmed to be set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, so Starfighter wouldn't cause a conflict. With that said, Starfighter's revelations about this era will almost certainly inform Rey's new movie.

Starfighter's revelations about this era will almost certainly inform Rey's new movie.

Starfighter Is A Classic Star Wars Game Callback

Could This Game Offer Hints About What This Story Will Include?

Interestingly, Starfighter shares a name with a Star Wars video game that is more than 20 years old. Star Wars: Starfighter (2001) was a video game developed by LucasArts that was set just before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace's Battle of Naboo. Clearly, based on the era in which Levy's Starfighter is set, the movie will not follow the story from the game.

However, this choice for the movie's title can't be coincidental, which suggests that the bones of the video game may be relevant to the movie. For example, the video game centers on four main characters—Rhys, Vana, Nym, and Reti—who team up to stop the Trade Federation. Levy's Starfighter of course won't focus on a group from Naboo trying to stop the Trade Federation, but it would be interesting to see Gosling teaming up with other pilots to face whatever threat lies ahead. At present, this is entirely speculative.

Starfighter Stars Entirely New Characters

Other Cast Haven't Been Revealed, But This Movie Is A Standalone

During Star Wars Celebration 2025, Levy also confirmed that Starfighter is a standalone movie focused on entirely new characters. While Star Wars has proven it's unable to resist a good cameo, this suggests we won't be seeing any of Star Wars' main characters in the movie. Instead, we will get a brand-new cast of characters, some of whom could be influenced by Legends.

That would likely be a popular choice, given how frustrated audiences were with the sequel trilogy's deviations from the Legends stories set in the same era. It will be particularly interesting to see what character choices Starfighter makes in light of the sequels, in fact. Currently, only Gosling's (unnamed) character is confirmed, but it will be thrilling to learn more as additional cast are announced.

It will be particularly interesting to see what character choices Starfighter makes in light of the sequels.

Will Starfighter Give Us A Canon Equivalent Of Corran Horn?

Ryan Gosling Even Looks The Part

One specific character who could come into play in Starfighter—if not directly, then at least as inspiration—is Legends character Corran Horn. Corran was a Force-sensitive Corellian pilot who was a member of Rogue Squadron and became a hero of the New Republic. Interestingly, he also became a Jedi Master in the New Jedi Order.

Clearly, there are some interesting story touchpoints here, especially considering Starfighter is theoretically before New Jedi Order. It bears mentioning, too, that Ryan Gosling shares physical similarities to Corran in Legends. While it's likely too early to speculate on Gosling potentially playing Corran Horn (or a canon variation of the character), it's a thrilling prospect for Star Wars: Starfighter.