Charles EstherRyan Gosling is officially joining the Star Wars universe.
The Hollywood star is set to play a brand-new character in Star Wars: Starfighter, a standalone film that will hit theaters on May 28, 2027.
The announcement was made on stage at Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Japan, surprising fans with one of the biggest casting reveals in the franchise’s recent history.
A Second Surprise Film on the Horizon
Fans were already buzzing about The Mandalorian & Grogu film set to premiere on May 26, 2026.
But Lucasfilm delivered another major surprise on April 17, 2025, revealing a second feature-length movie set to arrive exactly a year later.
Star Wars: Starfighter will begin production this fall and marks the return of the franchise to its blockbuster roots after a brief break from the big screen.
Shawn Levy Takes the Helm
Directing Starfighter is Shawn Levy, best known for his work on the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine and previous hits like Free Guy and Stranger Things.
His involvement has fans hyped, especially considering his ability to blend humour, action, and emotional depth.
Pairing Levy with Gosling signals a fresh tone for this next era of Star Wars.
A New Character, A New Era
Gosling, who rose to fame with roles in La La Land, Blade Runner 2049, and Barbie, will not be playing an existing Star Wars icon.
Instead, he’ll take on an original role in a story set five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker.
This marks a clean break from the Skywalker saga and gives creators room to explore new themes and characters.
Gosling showed up on stage wearing a cap that read “Never tell me the odds.”
This famous Han Solo quote has fans speculating that Starfighter will be heavy on action, space battles, and daring heroics.
Details Are Still Under Wraps
Apart from the official title and Gosling’s casting, little is known about the film’s plot.
No trailers or character details have been released, though a teaser logo has been shown to attendees at the Celebration event.
Still, excitement is high as this new chapter hints at a more adventurous, post-Skywalker world.
More Big Announcements from Star Wars Celebration 2025
Starfighter wasn’t the only news from Star Wars Celebration 2025.
Lucasfilm also revealed a new animated series titled Maul: Shadow Lord, set to debut exclusively on Disney+ in 2026.
Even better, Sam Witwer will return to voice Maul, thrilling fans of The Clone Wars and Rebels.
A Bright Future for Star Wars Fans
With The Mandalorian & Grogu, Starfighter, and Maul: Shadow Lord on the way, the Star Wars galaxy is expanding fast.
New tech experiences like Beyond Victory for Meta Quest, exclusive Lego sets, and collectibles continue to fuel fan excitement.
As we move into this new cinematic phase, one thing is clear—Star Wars is far from slowing down.
With Ryan Gosling joining the crew, Starfighter may just launch a new fan-favourite character into hyperspace.
