Lucasfilm is set to release Star Wars: Starfighter in 2027, arriving just in time for the 50th anniversary of the original movie. The new film, directed by Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy, is set five years after The Rise of Skywalker and features a completely original cast of characters that includes Ryan Gosling alongside Finn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Amy Adams.
Details regarding the next Star Wars film beyond Rise of Skywalker’s timeline have been mostly kept under wraps. However, it has been said that the film is a standalone adventure with new characters, not a direct sequel or prequel, and is intended to recapture the fun and adventure of the original 1977 Star Wars film.
In a recent interview with The Business podcast, Levy, whose Starfighter film began shooting back in August, said his only note from the Lucasfilm executives was to “make it new.”
“There is no mandate or interference other than the constant encouragement, ‘Make this new.’ And that’s the truth. Every time I’ve asked, ‘Should I use this character that was maybe in that movie?’ Every time it’s, ‘You know what? People have seen that. Do something new.’
First production photo from Star Wars: Starfighter. Image courtesy of Lucasfilm.
Levy describes this instruction as an empowering opportunity that provides him with creative freedom, unlike anything he has experienced before within a major franchise. However, he learned early on in development it was because Kennedy and the rest of Lucasfilm wanted to steer the franchise onto a different path.
“Unlike ‘Solo’… unlike ‘Rise of Skywalker,’ which was a sequel to two other movies and ultimately a ninth film in the Skywalker saga, ‘Starfighter’ is all new characters based on new ideas that Jonathan and I cooked up alone and together.”
Ryan Gosling and Shawn Levy. Photo courtesy of Instagram.
The director and executive producer also spoke with Vanity Fair this week and was asked how things are going in a galaxy far, far away. He was reluctant to answer spoilerish details but shared some insightful personal thoughts on his experience. Along with a few quotes about Levy’s excitement, there is a new image from the set. And if you’re a Star Wars fan, that’s noteworthy. You can see the HD version of the photo in all its glory over on the Vanity Fair site, or checks it out below here via the social media platform X.
We see Levy and a few members of the crew on what clearly appears to be some sort of ship. Unfortunately, Vanity Fair‘s description of the photo does not give us any specific details. It’s quite honestly the first real production photo from the set other than Gosling and Gray stopping shooting for a quick pic back in August in Italy.
Levy says, “Nothing quite prepares you for the unique experience of directing Star Wars. I’ve done ambitious movies with high levels of complexity,” the filmmaker said. “Star Wars is uniquely intricate because not only are you inheriting a beloved legacy, but in the case of Starfighter, I’ve got this self-imposed but very Lucasfilm-supported mandate of making a new adventure. And so every creative decision, it’s all bespoke and new. So it’s the normal number of decisions per day that directors are used to, but probably times 10.”
Levy appears to be loving his chance and sounds like a kid in a candy store with regard to his comments on how he feels about his new Star Wars film. He said.
“Every day on set with Star Wars, I’ve got my 10-year-old self next to me. I’m sort of inspired and—in the midst of a huge amount of stress—gleeful. Younger me is there every day, and he’s losing his mind with excitement.”
Photo by Shawn Levy in Sardinia, Italy with Actors Ryan Gosling and Flynn Gray.
What Levy and writer Jonathan Tropper have up their sleeves for the film is anyone’s best guess, but they’ve collaborated for months “dreaming, brainstorming, rejecting ideas, and embracing others” for this project. The two have connected through their previous work on The Adam Project, a connection that might just add the spark this film needs.
“I knew the feeling that she wanted. I know the aspects of my work that have worked and that she was alluding to. It is sort of a combination of humor and heart, within adventure. The first step was, I chose [screenwriter] Jonathan Tropper, with whom I’ve done small movies and big movies.
Director Shawn Levy. Image courtesy of Getty Images.
The filmmaker also discussed his career trajectory and future aspirations after achieving major mainstream success.
“I’ve always been so specifically goal-driven to make big movies, reach big audiences: Marvel, Star Wars. And now I find myself at a moment where it all happened. I’m in this unfamiliar place of not chasing a white whale, but rather being willing to sit back and only make what is irresistible to me. And I’m intrigued to see what proves too juicy to resist.”
Many Star Wars fans are calling for a “fresh” direction, citing a desire for new eras, original stories, and a departure from the recent focus on legacy characters and established timelines. While some suggest a reboot is needed to escape the perceived limitations of the sequel trilogy canon, others believe new, self-contained stories or content in less explored eras are indeed warranted.
Poe Dameron’s X-Wing from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Image courtesy of Lucasfilm.
Hopefully fans get that fresh Star Wars look and the film franchise takes off once again. There was nothing like the power that surrounded the release of The Force Awakens when it was released. It was truly the Power of the Force.
Fans eagerly await the release of The Mandalorian & Grogu, which hits theaters on May 22, 2026. Hopefully, that little number kicks fandom into high gear.
May the Force be with you…
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