‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ shares first look as filming begins

Lucasfilm officially began production on “Star Wars: Starfighter” in the United Kingdom, releasing the first behind-the-scenes image featuring Ryan Gosling and young co-star Flynn Gray positioned near a vehicle on set.
The film boasts a star-studded ensemble cast including six-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams, “House of the Dragon” star Matt Smith, horror queen Mia Goth, and “Rebel Ridge” breakout Aaron Pierre, with Smith and Goth confirmed as the film’s antagonists.
“Starfighter” marks the first major theatrical Star Wars adventure set five years after “The Rise of Skywalker,” exploring previously uncharted territory in the franchise timeline as a standalone story outside the Skywalker Saga.
Directed by Shawn Levy of “Deadpool & Wolverine” fame and written by Jonathan Tropper, the film reportedly follows Gosling’s character protecting a young ward from galactic threats in an original adventure.
The film is scheduled for theatrical release on May 28, 2027, following “The Mandalorian and Grogu” in 2026 as Star Wars returns to cinemas after nearly eight years.

Lucasfilm officially launched production on “Star Wars: Starfighter” Thursday, marking the beginning of filming on the first new Star Wars theatrical adventure to venture beyond the sequel trilogy timeline. The announcement accompanied the release of the film’s complete cast roster and a behind-the-scenes image featuring Ryan Gosling alongside young co-star Flynn Gray.nukethefridge

The black-and-white photograph from the UK set shows Gosling and Gray positioned near what appears to be a landspeeder, providing the first glimpse of characters in the highly anticipated film directed by Shawn Levy of “Deadpool & Wolverine” fame.motionpictures

Star-Studded Ensemble Joins the Galaxy

The cast announcement revealed an impressive roster of talent joining Gosling in the standalone adventure. Six-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams, “House of the Dragon” star Matt Smith, and horror queen Mia Goth lead the ensemble, which also includes “Rebel Ridge” breakout Aaron Pierre, “The Inbetweeners” alum Simon Bird, West End’s Jamael Westman, and Daniel Ings.motionpictures

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Adams is expected to portray the mother of Gray’s character, while Smith and Goth have been confirmed as the film’s antagonists. The extensive casting process reportedly involved searches across both the US and UK for key roles, with several high-profile actors including Jesse Plemons and Jodie Comer initially offered but declining villain parts.hollywoodreporter

Uncharted Territory in the Star Wars Timeline

“Starfighter” represents a significant milestone for the franchise as the first major theatrical story set approximately five years after “The Rise of Skywalker,” moving Star Wars cinema into previously unexplored territory. According to reports, the film follows a Jedi played by Gosling who trains his 15-year-old nephew as his Padawan while they embark on a dangerous mission pursued by two villains.usatoday

Director Shawn Levy expressed his enthusiasm for the project in a statement: “I feel a profound sense of excitement and honor as we begin production on Star Wars: Starfighter. From the day Kathy Kennedy called me up, inviting me to develop an original adventure in this incredible Star Wars galaxy, this experience has been a dream come true, creatively and personally”.motionpictures

The film, written by Jonathan Tropper and produced by Levy alongside Kathleen Kennedy, is scheduled for theatrical release on May 28, 2027, following “The Mandalorian and Grogu” in 2026 as Star Wars returns to cinemas after an eight-year theatrical absence.imdb