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 directing Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone, live-action film set to star Ryan Gosling. Scheduled to start production this fall, Starfighter is slated for release on May 28, 2027, making it the next Star Wars film to hit theaters after 2026’s The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Despite the excitement, details about the plot of Starfighter remain scarce. The only confirmed detail is that the film is set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, marking it as the farthest point yet on the Star Wars timeline. This era of the Star Wars universe is relatively unexplored, offering ample room for new stories and developments.

What do we know about this period in Star Wars lore? Not much, but we can speculate based on the ending of The Rise of Skywalker and insights from the pre-Disney Legends universe. Let's delve into the key questions left open by The Rise of Skywalker and how Starfighter might address them.

Every Upcoming Star Wars Movie and TV Show

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The Star Wars: Starfighter Games

It's worth noting that Star Wars: Starfighter shares its name with a series of games from the PS2/Xbox era. The original Star Wars: Starfighter, released in 2001, and its sequel, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter in 2002, are set during Episodes I and II, respectively. While the new movie shares the name, it's unlikely to borrow plot points from these games due to its setting many decades later. However, the film might draw inspiration from Jedi Starfighter's ship-to-ship combat, which introduced Force powers into the mix. Could Gosling's character be a Jedi and a skilled pilot? It's a possibility that could add an exciting twist to the movie's action sequences.

The Fate of the New Republic

The Rise of Skywalker concludes with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, but it leaves the state of the galaxy post-Battle of Exegol largely undefined. The New Republic's fate remains uncertain after the First Order's devastating attack on Hosnian Prime in The Force Awakens. While most Star Wars projects during the Sequel era have focused on the conflict between Leia's Resistance and the First Order, little is known about the New Republic's recovery. In Starfighter, the New Republic might still exist but be significantly weakened, grappling with internal conflicts between Populists and Centrists, as seen in the novel Star Wars: Bloodline.

Additionally, remnants of the First Order could still be active, rallying around a new leader following Kylo Ren's demise. The galaxy could be in the midst of a power struggle, providing the perfect backdrop for the epic space battles fans crave. The rise of piracy, as depicted in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, could also play a role, with Gosling's character potentially fighting to restore order. This narrative could serve as a replacement for Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron movie, with Gosling's character possibly being a New Republic pilot, a local defender, or even an ex-First Order trooper like Finn.

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

Rebuilding the Jedi Order

Luke Skywalker's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order were initially successful, as seen in The Book of Boba Fett and various books and comics. However, Ben Solo's betrayal and destruction of the Jedi Temple led to Luke's retreat to Ahch-To. While many Jedi perished, it's possible some survived, akin to those who evaded Order 66. The current status of Ahsoka Tano, whose voice was heard among the Force ghosts at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, remains uncertain, though Dave Filoni has hinted that Ahsoka isn’t dead.

Rey Skywalker is set to continue Luke's legacy in the New Jedi Order movie, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, which is set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Starfighter, occurring a decade earlier, may or may not address the Jedi's current state, depending on whether Gosling's character is Force-sensitive. If he is, Rey might appear to mentor him. Otherwise, Starfighter could focus on ordinary heroes, similar to Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Are the Sith Still Around?

The Rise of Skywalker confirmed Palpatine's role as the central villain of the Skywalker Saga, but his death leaves the fate of the Sith uncertain. The Expanded Universe suggests that the Sith could re-emerge, as seen with Darth Krayt in the Star Wars: Legacy comics. Other Dark Side practitioners, like the Nightsisters of Dathomir and Maul, were also present during the Clone Wars. With Palpatine gone, new Dark Side threats might arise, possibly from surviving members of the Knights of Ren or another of Luke's pupils turned to the Dark Side.

Whether Starfighter will explore these Sith-related developments depends largely on Gosling's character. If he's not a Jedi, the film might bypass this aspect of the Star Wars universe, leaving it for the New Jedi Order movie or Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars trilogy.

Could Poe Dameron or Other Sequel Trilogy Characters Return?

Starfighter introduces a new lead character and is set in an unexplored period, but Star Wars films often include cameos and callbacks. Poe Dameron, portrayed by Oscar Isaac, seems a likely candidate due to his piloting skills and role in rebuilding the galaxy. Chewbacca might also return, possibly as Gosling's co-pilot in the Millennium Falcon. Finn, played by John Boyega, could feature if the film involves remnants of the First Order, exploring his role in helping former Stormtroopers.

Rey's appearance in Starfighter might hinge on Gosling's character being a Jedi. Lucasfilm has plans for Rey, but they might not involve Starfighter. Other characters like Lando Calrissian, Luke Skywalker's Force Ghost, or C-3PO and R2-D2 could also make appearances, adding familiar elements to the new story.