"Star Wars: Starfighter - Plot and Timeline Revealed"

The biggest news to emerge from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was the announcement that Deadpool & Wolverine's Shawn Levy is directing Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone live-action film starring Ryan Gosling. Set to hit theaters on May 28, 2027, following the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu in 2026, production for Starfighter is slated to begin this fall. While details on the plot remain scarce, we do know that the film is set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, placing it further along the Star Wars timeline than any previous movie or series.

Given the limited information about this period in Star Wars lore, much of what we can discuss is speculative, drawing from the conclusion of The Rise of Skywalker and the pre-Disney Legends universe's take on this era. Let's delve into some of the key questions that remain after The Rise of Skywalker 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 name with a series of games from the PS2/Xbox era. The original Star Wars: Starfighter was released in 2001, followed by Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter in 2002. Although the new movie shares its title with these games, it is unlikely to draw heavily from their plots, given its setting decades later. The original game is set during Episode I, focusing on other heroic pilots during the Battle of Naboo, while Jedi Starfighter is set during Episode II, centering on Jedi Master Adi Gallia and the pirate Nym. However, the film might incorporate elements of ship-to-ship combat seen in Jedi Starfighter, particularly the use of Force powers in battle. Could Gosling's character be both a Jedi and a skilled pilot? It's an exciting possibility that could enhance the movie's action sequences.

The Fate of the New Republic

While The Rise of Skywalker concludes with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, it leaves the state of the galaxy post-Battle of Exegol 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 largely focused on the conflict between Leia's Resistance and the First Order, offering little insight into the New Republic's recovery. It's conceivable that the New Republic still exists in the time of Starfighter, albeit in a weakened state. The internal conflict between Populists and Centrists, as depicted in the novel Star Wars: Bloodline, may continue to hinder its efforts to rebuild.

Additionally, remnants of the First Order might still be active five years after Palpatine's demise. Historical precedent suggests that such factions can persist, much like the Imperial Remnant did after the Battle of Endor. This potential power struggle sets the stage for the epic space battles fans love, and Gosling's character could be a New Republic pilot striving to restore order. Alternatively, he might be a local defender or an ex-First Order trooper like Finn. As a standalone movie, Starfighter is likely to explore the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker rather than establishing a new overarching conflict, focusing perhaps on a villain exploiting the current power vacuum.

Rebuilding the Jedi Order

Luke Skywalker's vision of rebuilding the Jedi Order was shattered by Ben Solo's betrayal and the destruction of the Jedi Temple. While many Jedi were killed, it's unlikely they were all eradicated, much like the survivors of Order 66. The current state of the Jedi Order remains uncertain, though Ahsoka Tano's presence in the Sequel era is hinted at by Dave Filoni. Rey Skywalker, set to appear in the New Jedi Order movie directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, is focused on rebuilding the Jedi 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, a decade after Starfighter. Whether Starfighter will address the Jedi's current state depends on Gosling's character's Force sensitivity. If he is Force-sensitive, Rey might appear to guide him; if not, the film might focus on ordinary heroes, similar to Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Are the Sith Still Around?

With Palpatine's definitive demise in The Rise of Skywalker, the question of whether the Sith still exist remains. Historical Star Wars Legends suggest that new Sith Lords could emerge, as seen in the Legacy comics with Darth Krayt. Even if the Sith as an organized order are gone, the Dark Side's allure could tempt new villains. Palpatine's multiple Dark Side rivals during the Clone Wars, including the Nightsisters and Maul, indicate that other dark forces might seize the opportunity now that Palpatine is gone. Whether Starfighter delves into this depends largely on the film's focus on Jedi or Sith elements, which might be reserved for future projects like the New Jedi Order movie or Simon Kinberg's trilogy.

Could Poe Dameron or Other Sequel Trilogy Characters Return?

As a standalone film, Starfighter introduces a new lead character and explores an uncharted period in the Star Wars timeline. However, the franchise's tradition of cameos and callbacks suggests that familiar faces might appear. Poe Dameron, the galaxy's best pilot, seems a likely candidate to assist Gosling's character in rebuilding efforts. Chewbacca could return, perhaps still with Rey or alongside Gosling's character in the Millennium Falcon. Finn's role could be significant if the film involves the First Order remnants, given his status as a hero to defecting Stormtroopers. Rey's appearance would depend on whether Gosling's character is a Jedi. While Lucasfilm has plans for Rey, her involvement 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 let us know in the comments below.