Despite several years of setbacks and the impending exit of its President, Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm is still looking to the horizon of “Star Wars” and its future. So, today at the Star Wars Celebration in Japan, Kennedy announced the next film in the ongoing saga, the newly titled “Star Wars: Starfighter,” which will land in theaters on May 28, 2027.
Directed by “Deadpool & Wolverine” helmer, Shawn Levy, “Star Wars: Starfighter” will star Ryan Gosling (“The Fall Guy”).
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“This script is so good,” Gosling said from the stage in Tokyo. “It’s filled with so much heart and adventure, and there just really is not a more perfect filmmaker for this particular story than Sean.”
“We’re not in development, we’re in pre-production,” Levy explained. “We’re going to start shooting this fall to come out May 2027.”
Lucasfilm revealed no plot details, but Levy said the movie would be a “standalone adventure that takes place a few years after the events of Episode 9.”
“It’s a big galaxy out there,” he explained. “And it feels like it’s an opportunity to do a movie that’s not a prequel, that’s not a sequel, and gives us the ‘Star Wars’ DNA that we love, but with an adventure that’s all new.” Gosling added that the movie will show a side of the “Star Wars” universe that we may not have seen before.
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Earlier today, leaked rumors said the movie revolved around a Jedi (Gosling) who trains his 15-year-old nephew as his Padawan. They’re on a mission while being pursued by two villains — one male, one female. None of that sounds particularly new, so will those rumors pan out? Who knows, but that’s the word making the rounds now.
Levy co-wrote the script with Jonathan Tropper, who penned the Levy movies, “The Adam Project” and “This Is Where I Leave You.”
Star Wars Celebration didn’t feature too many other announcements. Still, Kennedy insisted that “Star Wars” movies by filmmakers James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Taika Waititi, and a new trilogy by Simon Kinberg were still in ongoing development.