Star Wars: Starfighter - Plot and Timeline 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 in the lead role. Scheduled to start production this fall, Starfighter is poised to hit theaters on May 28, 2027, following the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu in 2026. While plot details remain scarce, we do know that the film is set five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, placing it further along the Star Wars timeline than any previous movie or series.

This period of Star Wars lore remains relatively unexplored, leaving much room for speculation based on the ending of The Rise of Skywalker and the pre-Disney Legends universe. Here, we'll delve into the key questions raised by the end of The Rise of Skywalker and consider 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 title with a series of 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 respectively, focused on heroic pilots and introduced unique gameplay elements like Force-powered ship combat. While the new film shares a name, it's unlikely to directly adapt the games' plots given its setting decades later. However, it could draw inspiration from Jedi Starfighter's innovative combat, potentially featuring Gosling's character as a Jedi pilot with enhanced abilities, adding an exciting twist to the film's action sequences.

The Fate of the New Republic

The conclusion of The Rise of Skywalker left the fate of the New Republic ambiguous following the devastating attack on Hosnian Prime by the First Order's Starkiller Base. The Sequel Trilogy largely focused on the Resistance's struggle against the First Order, leaving the New Republic's status post-battle unclear. In Star Wars: Starfighter, set five years after these events, the New Republic might still exist but in a weakened state, struggling with internal conflicts and external threats. The film could explore the power struggles within the galaxy, possibly involving remnants of the First Order and the ongoing threat of piracy, as seen in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. Gosling's character could be a New Republic pilot or a defender of a world striving for order amidst chaos, potentially filling the narrative space left by Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie.

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 becoming Kylo Ren. Despite this, it's unlikely all Jedi were eliminated, as seen with Ahsoka Tano, whose voice was heard among the Force ghosts at the end of The Rise of Skywalker. Dave Filoni's hints suggest Ahsoka might still be active. Meanwhile, Rey Skywalker is set to lead the charge in rebuilding the Jedi Order in a future film set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Whether Starfighter will address the Jedi's current state depends on if Gosling's character is Force-sensitive. If so, we might see a cameo from Rey, connecting the film to the broader Jedi narrative. If not, Starfighter could focus on non-Jedi heroes, similar to Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Are the Sith Still Around?

With Palpatine's final defeat in The Rise of Skywalker, the question remains whether the Sith are truly extinct. Historical Star Wars Legends and the animated series suggest the Dark Side always finds new adherents. Palpatine's death might leave a vacuum, possibly filled by other Dark Side users, such as surviving members of the Knights of Ren or another of Luke's fallen pupils. Whether Starfighter will explore this depends largely on its narrative focus. If Gosling's character isn't a Jedi, the film might sidestep the Sith, leaving such exploration to future projects like the New Jedi Order movie or Simon Kinberg's Star Wars trilogy.

Could Poe Dameron or Other Sequel Trilogy Characters Return?

Star Wars: Starfighter introduces a new lead with Gosling's character, but given Star Wars' penchant for cameos, familiar faces from the Sequel Trilogy might appear. Poe Dameron, the galaxy's premier pilot post-Han Solo, could play a role in aiding the New Republic's recovery. Chewbacca might return, perhaps alongside Gosling's character piloting the Millennium Falcon. Finn's potential involvement with former First Order soldiers could intersect with the film's plot, and Rey's presence would depend on whether the story delves into Jedi matters. While Starfighter is a standalone, the possibility of seeing beloved characters like these adds an exciting layer of connection to the broader Star Wars universe.

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