Star Wars: Starfighter - Movie Plot and Timeline Details Revealed

The biggest revelation from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was the announcement that Deadpool & Wolverine's Shawn Levy will direct Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone live-action film featuring Ryan Gosling. Set to be the next Star Wars movie after 2026's The Mandalorian and Grogu, Starfighter will commence production this fall and is slated for a May 28, 2027 release.

While the plot details remain largely under wraps, Lucasfilm has confirmed that Starfighter will be set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This places the film further along the Star Wars timeline than any previous movie or series, venturing into uncharted territory within the franchise's lore.

Given the limited information on this period, much of what we know stems from the conclusion of The Rise of Skywalker and the pre-Disney Legends universe. Let's explore some key questions raised by the end of the Sequel Trilogy and how Starfighter might address them.

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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 PS2 and Xbox era. The original Star Wars: Starfighter was released in 2001, followed by Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter in 2002. While the new movie shares the name, it's unlikely to borrow plot elements from these games, given its setting decades later. However, it could draw inspiration from Jedi Starfighter's ship-to-ship combat mechanics, which included the use of Force powers. This could introduce an exciting element to the film, especially if Gosling's character is both a Jedi and a skilled pilot.

The Fate of the New Republic

At the end of The Rise of Skywalker, the galaxy triumphs over Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, but the fate of the New Republic remains ambiguous. The Sequel Trilogy, particularly The Force Awakens, showed the First Order's devastating attack on Hosnian Prime, wiping out the New Republic's leadership. Subsequent projects have focused on the conflict between Leia's Resistance and the First Order, leaving the New Republic's status unclear.

It's plausible that the New Republic still exists in the era of Star Wars: Starfighter, albeit weakened. Prior to the First Order's rise, the New Republic faced internal strife between Populists and Centrists, as depicted in Star Wars: Bloodline. This internal conflict could continue to hinder its efforts to rebuild.

Furthermore, the question of whether remnants of the First Order persist five years after Palpatine's defeat remains open. Just as the Empire lingered post-Battle of Endor, the First Order might have regrouped under a new leader following Kylo Ren's demise. This suggests a power struggle within the galaxy, setting the stage for the epic space battles fans crave.

The era also sees a rise in piracy, as shown in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. With the New Republic struggling to maintain order, pirates and smugglers exploit the chaos on the galaxy's fringes. This issue likely worsens post-The Force Awakens, adding another layer of conflict for Star Wars: Starfighter to explore.

Gosling's character might be a New Republic pilot striving to restore order, potentially filling the void left by Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie. Alternatively, he could be a local defender of a planet struggling without the Republic's aid or even a former First Order trooper like John Boyega's Finn.

Given its standalone nature, Star Wars: Starfighter is unlikely to introduce a new overarching conflict like the Rebels vs. Empire or Resistance vs. First Order. Instead, it may focus on the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker, with a villain exploiting the galaxy's current power vacuum.

Rebuilding the Jedi Order

Luke Skywalker's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order were initially successful, as seen in The Book of Boba Fett and various books and comics. However, Ben Solo's turn to the dark side and the destruction of Luke's temple left the Order in ruins, with Luke retreating to Ahch-To.

Despite the devastation, it's unlikely that all Jedi were killed in Ben's attack, similar to the survival of some Jedi post-Order 66. The current status of Ahsoka Tano, voiced among the Force ghosts at the end of The Rise of Skywalker yet hinted to be alive by Dave Filoni, remains a mystery.

Rey Skywalker's mission to rebuild the Jedi Order, set to be explored in Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's New Jedi Order movie, takes place 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, a decade after Starfighter. Whether Starfighter will touch on the Jedi's state may hinge on whether Gosling's character is Force-sensitive. If so, Rey might make a cameo to guide this promising pilot. If not, the film could focus on non-Jedi heroes, akin 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 arises: are there still Sith in the galaxy? The Expanded Universe suggests that the Sith legacy could continue beyond Palpatine, as seen in Star Wars: Legacy and other Legends stories.

Even if no new Sith Lords emerge, the Dark Side's influence persists. The Clone Wars showed Palpatine facing multiple Dark Side rivals, including the Nightsisters and Maul. Other dark figures might seize the opportunity created by Palpatine's absence, such as another apprentice or surviving Knights of Ren members.

Whether Star Wars: Starfighter delves into this depends on Gosling's character's connection to the Force. If he's not a Jedi, the film might bypass Sith-related themes, leaving such exploration to 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, Star Wars: Starfighter introduces a new lead character, but Star Wars is known for its cameos and callbacks. Solo: A Star Wars Story featured a Darth Maul cameo, hinting at the potential for Sequel Trilogy characters to appear.

Poe Dameron, played by Oscar Isaac, seems a likely candidate. As the galaxy's premier pilot post-Han Solo, Poe could be involved in the New Republic's restoration efforts, making him a natural ally for Gosling's character.

Chewbacca's role post-The Rise of Skywalker is also intriguing. Whether he remains with Rey or has new adventures, seeing him alongside Gosling's character, perhaps even piloting the Millennium Falcon, would be a nostalgic touch.

Finn, portrayed by John Boyega, could return if the film focuses on First Order remnants. His journey from Stormtrooper to rebel leader could intersect with Gosling's character, especially if the latter is a former trooper.

Rey's involvement would depend on Gosling's character being a Jedi. While Lucasfilm has plans for Rey, her role in Starfighter remains uncertain.

Which surviving character from The Rise of Skywalker would you most like to see in Star Wars: Starfighter? Cast your vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments below.