Ryan Gosling to lead new Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy

When Lucasfilm took the stage at Star Wars Celebration Japan on April 18, 2025, fans were treated to a surprise reveal: Ryan Gosling will be leading a brand-new standalone Star Wars film directed by Shawn Levy. The announcement came courtesy of Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and chief creative officer Dave Filoni, who teased that the project, officially titled Star Wars: Starfighter, will transport audiences to a fresh corner of the galaxy far, far away.

Gosling, fresh off the success of Barbie and The Fall Guy, reportedly signed on after being drawn to Jonathan Tropper’s “strong script and characters”. In Levy’s words,

“This is a standalone. It’s not a prequel, not a sequel. It’s a new adventure. It’s set in a period of time that we haven’t seen explored yet”.

Production is slated to begin in fall 2025, with Disney scheduling the film to hit theaters on May 28, 2027. As the next theatrical entry in the Star Wars lineup, the Gosling-led movie promises to expand the saga beyond the Skywalker saga and spin-offs alike.

Ryan Gosling to lead “Starfighter,” Shawn Levy’s standalone Star Wars adventure

In a move that bridges blockbuster pedigree with sci-fi legacy, Ryan Gosling has officially boarded Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter as its leading man. Lucasfilm’s announcement clarified that the film takes place roughly five years after The Rise of Skywalker, offering a narrative playground unbound by the Skywalker Saga’s events. Levy, whose credits include Deadpool & Wolverine and Free Guy, co-produces alongside Kathleen Kennedy, ensuring the project retains both star power and Lucasfilm’s high standards.

The screenplay, penned by Jonathan Tropper—Levy’s collaborator on The Adam Project—has been in development since 2022, surviving industry strikes and evolving into the next live-action theatrical release. Ryan Gosling’s attachment accelerated production plans, positioning Starfighter as the first original Star Wars movie to go before cameras after The Mandalorian & Grogu feature in 2026.

With a release date locked for Memorial Day weekend 2027, the film will sit just three weeks after Marvel’s Avengers: Secret Wars, highlights Disney’s confidence in Gosling and Levy’s ability to draw audiences back to cinemas.

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Fan and critic reactions to Star Wars: Starfighter

Early reactions to the Gosling-Levy collaboration have been a mix of unbridled excitement and cautious optimism. On Reddit, the announcement sparked threads praising Gosling’s versatility and Levy’s knack for balancing humor with heart, though some fans questioned how Starfighter will distinguish itself from previous standalone entries.

Think pieces from outlets like Vanity Fair highlight Levy’s success reviving established franchises, citing Deadpool & Wolverine’s box-office lift, and suggest his fresh take could revitalize Star Wars storytelling. Critics, meanwhile, note that Gosling’s star wattage brings both a box-office guarantee and high expectations; one film analyst pointed out:

“Gosling’s dramatic chops paired with Levy’s comedic instincts could yield the best standalone Star Wars film yet”.

Video essayists on YouTube speculate about the film’s uncharted timeline, theorizing that it may bridge gaps between post-Rise of Skywalker politics and the New Jedi Order saga. Social media platforms like TikTok are buzzing with fan edits of Gosling in Jedi robes, testifying to the palpable buzz around Starfighter’s potential to expand the galaxy with fresh faces and a self-contained story.

With Ryan Gosling leading the charge and Shawn Levy at the helm, Star Wars: Starfighter aims to chart new territory in the galaxy far, far away. As production ramps up later this year and the release date approaches, both fans and critics will be watching closely to see if this standalone film delivers on its adventurous promise.