Star Wars: Starfighter Movie - Plot and Timeline Revealed

The most exciting news to emerge 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. Scheduled to follow 2026's The Mandalorian and Grogu, production for Starfighter is slated to start this fall, with a targeted release date of May 28, 2027.

While the basic details are out, the plot of Starfighter remains largely under wraps. However, Lucasfilm has shared one pivotal piece of information: the film is set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This places Starfighter further along the Star Wars timeline than any previous movie or series, venturing into uncharted territory for fans.

This era of Star Wars lore is relatively unexplored. Following the conclusion of The Rise of Skywalker, many questions remain about the galaxy's state. We can only speculate on how the narrative might unfold, drawing from the end of The Rise of Skywalker and the pre-Disney Legends universe. Let's delve into some of the significant questions that linger post-Rise of Skywalker and how Starfighter might tackle 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 early 2000s for the PS2 and Xbox. The first game, released in 2001, was set during Episode I and showcased other heroic pilots around the Battle of Naboo. Its sequel, Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter (2002), took place during Episode II, focusing on Jedi Master Adi Gallia and pirate Nym. Despite sharing a name, the new movie, set decades later, is unlikely to borrow much from these games' plots. However, the film might draw inspiration from Jedi Starfighter's ship-to-ship combat, especially its use of Force powers like shields, lightning, and shockwaves. Could Gosling's character be a Jedi pilot? This could add an exciting twist to the movie's action sequences.

The Fate of the New Republic

The Rise of Skywalker concluded with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, yet left the galaxy's post-Battle of Exegol state ambiguous. The fate of the New Republic, devastated by the First Order's Starkiller Base in The Force Awakens, remains unclear. Subsequent Star Wars projects have primarily focused on the conflict between Leia's Resistance and the First Order, leaving the New Republic's status post-leadership loss unexplored.

It's possible that the New Republic still exists during Starfighter's timeframe, albeit in a weakened state. The government was already facing internal strife between Populists and Centrists, as depicted in the novel Star Wars: Bloodline. This conflict might persist as the New Republic attempts to regroup and rebuild. Additionally, remnants of the First Order could still be lurking five years after Palpatine's defeat, similar to the lingering Imperial forces post-Endor.

The era of Starfighter likely features a significant power struggle within the galaxy, providing ample opportunity for epic space battles. Gosling's character might be a New Republic pilot striving to restore order, or perhaps a defender of a planet left to fend for itself. He could even be a former First Order trooper, much like Finn. As a standalone movie, Starfighter may explore the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker rather than establishing a new overarching conflict, focusing on a villain exploiting the galaxy's power vacuum.

Rebuilding the Jedi Order

Luke Skywalker's initial goal was to revive the Jedi Order, a dream shattered by Ben Solo's betrayal and the destruction of his Jedi Temple. Despite this, not all Jedi were likely killed during Ben's attack, suggesting survivors might still be out there. The question of Ahsoka Tano's status during the Sequel era remains, especially given her voice among the Force ghosts in The Rise of Skywalker and hints from Dave Filoni that she might still be alive.

Rey Skywalker is set to rebuild the Jedi Order in a future film directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Whether Starfighter will address the Jedi's current state might hinge on Gosling's character being Force-sensitive. If so, Rey might appear in a supporting role, reaching out to this promising pilot. Otherwise, Starfighter could be akin to Rogue One or Solo, focusing on non-Jedi heroes.

Are the Sith Still Around?

With Palpatine's final defeat in The Rise of Skywalker, the question of the Sith's continued presence looms. The Expanded Universe suggests that the Sith legacy often endures beyond Palpatine, with various dark-side factions emerging post-Return of the Jedi. The Clone Wars series also showed Palpatine's multiple dark-side rivals, hinting at other potential threats now that he's gone.

Starfighter may or may not delve into this, depending on whether Gosling's character has Jedi connections. If not, the film might bypass the Sith's current state, leaving it for future projects like the New Jedi Order movie or Simon Kinberg's Star Wars trilogy.

Could Poe Dameron or Other Sequel Trilogy Characters Return?

As a standalone film set in a new era, Starfighter is unlikely to feature many familiar faces. Yet, Star Wars often includes cameos and callbacks. Poe Dameron, portrayed by Oscar Isaac, stands out as a potential returnee, given his reputation as a top pilot and his role in rebuilding the galaxy. Chewbacca's whereabouts post-Rise of Skywalker, possibly still alongside Rey or perhaps with Gosling's character, could also be explored. John Boyega's Finn might appear, especially if the plot involves remnants of the First Order, given his transformation into a folk hero for deserters.

Rey's inclusion might depend on Gosling's character being a Jedi. While Lucasfilm has plans for Rey, her involvement in Starfighter remains uncertain. Which character from The Rise of Skywalker would you most like to see in Star Wars: Starfighter? Share your thoughts in the comments below.