Star Wars: Starfighter - Plot and Timeline Revealed

The biggest news from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was undoubtedly the announcement that Shawn Levy, the director behind Deadpool & Wolverine, is set to helm Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone, live-action film featuring Ryan Gosling. Scheduled to hit theaters on May 28, 2027, following the release of 2026's The Mandalorian and Grogu, production is slated to begin this fall. While details about the plot remain scarce, we do know that Starfighter is set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, making it the furthest point in the Star Wars timeline explored in film or series to date.

This period of Star Wars lore is relatively uncharted, but we can make educated guesses based on the conclusion of The Rise of Skywalker and the pre-Disney Legends universe. Let's delve into the key questions left unanswered by 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. While the new movie shares the name, it's unlikely to borrow much from the games' plots, which are set during Episodes I and II, respectively. However, the film could draw inspiration from Jedi Starfighter's ship-to-ship combat, particularly its use of Force powers. Could Gosling's character be a Jedi pilot? This could add an exciting dimension to the movie's action sequences.

The Fate of the New Republic

The Rise of Skywalker concludes with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, but it leaves the state of the galaxy post-Battle of Exegol ambiguous. The New Republic's fate after the destruction of Hosnian Prime by the First Order's Starkiller Base remains unclear. The Sequel Trilogy primarily focused on the conflict between Leia's Resistance and the First Order, leaving the New Republic's status post-leadership loss largely unexplored.

In Starfighter, the New Republic might still exist but in a weakened state. The novel Star Wars: Bloodline highlights the internal conflict between Populists and Centrists, which could persist as the New Republic attempts to rebuild. Additionally, remnants of the First Order might still be active, rallying around a new figurehead after Kylo Ren's death. This power struggle could set the stage for epic space battles, a hallmark of the Star Wars franchise. The ongoing pirate problem, as seen in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, could further complicate the galaxy's recovery.

Gosling's character might be a New Republic pilot striving to restore order, potentially filling the role envisioned for Patty Jenkins' Rogue Squadron movie. Alternatively, he could be a local defender or even an ex-First Order trooper like Finn. As a standalone film, Starfighter is likely to focus on the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker, exploring how a villain exploits the power vacuum in the galaxy.

Rebuilding the Jedi Order

Luke Skywalker's efforts to rebuild the Jedi Order were thwarted by Ben Solo's turn to the dark side and the destruction of his Jedi Temple. While many Jedi were killed, it's plausible that some survived, much like after Order 66. The current status of Ahsoka Tano, whose voice was heard among the Force ghosts in The Rise of Skywalker, remains uncertain, though Dave Filoni has hinted she might still be alive.

Rey Skywalker is set to continue Luke's legacy in the upcoming New Jedi Order movie, directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, which takes place 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker. Whether Starfighter will address the Jedi's current state depends on Gosling's character's Force sensitivity. If he is a Jedi, Rey might make a cameo to guide him. Otherwise, Starfighter could focus on non-Jedi heroes, similar to Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Are the Sith Still Around?

With Palpatine's definitive defeat in The Rise of Skywalker, the question arises: are there any remaining Sith? The Expanded Universe suggests that the Sith could persist beyond Palpatine, as seen in the Star Wars: Legacy comics. The galaxy might still harbor individuals drawn to the Dark Side, whether they identify as Sith or not. The Clone Wars series showed Palpatine had multiple Dark Side rivals, indicating potential for new threats to emerge in Palpatine's absence.

Whether Starfighter will explore this remains to be seen. If Gosling's character isn't a Jedi, the film might not delve into 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?

Star Wars: Starfighter introduces a new lead character and explores a new era, but as a standalone film, it might still feature cameos from familiar faces. Poe Dameron, portrayed by Oscar Isaac, seems a likely candidate given his piloting skills and role in rebuilding the galaxy. Chewbacca could also return, perhaps alongside Gosling's character in the Millennium Falcon. John Boyega's Finn might appear if the film involves remnants of the First Order, given his role in inspiring defecting Stormtroopers.

Rey's appearance would depend on whether Gosling's character is a Jedi. While Lucasfilm has plans for Rey, Starfighter might not be part of those plans. Which surviving character from The Rise of Skywalker would you most like to see in Star Wars: Starfighter? Let us know in the comments below.

For more on the future of the Star Wars franchise, find out why Lucasfilm needs to stop announcing movies and just make them, and brush up on every Star Wars movie and series in development.