Starfighter: Disney is pinning all its hopes on this 2027 Star Wars movie—now there are concrete (and rather suspicious) plot details

New information and first images for *Star Wars: Starfighter*, starring Ryan Gosling, were revealed at D23.

The Mandalorian & Groguended Star Wars’ hiatus from theaters following Episode 9, but the big rush never materialized. That’s set to change onMay 26, 2027with the next film: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling in the lead role.

We haven’t seen all that much of this upcoming Star Wars project so far, though. But at D23, new story details and even actual footage were revealed… though it hasn’t made it online yet—at least not through official channels. So we’re providing you with a concise overview here.

Here’s what Star Wars: Starfighter is about

Here’s what we know so far:

• Starfighter takes place after Episode 9: The Rise of Skywalker. The film is intended to stand on its own and will not feature any familiar faces.

• The plot revolves around a gifted pilot (Ryan Gosling) who must transport a boy (Flynn Gray) halfway across the galaxy. But that’s easier said than done, as several shady characters are hot on their heels.

Here’s what’s new:

• According to director Shawn Levy, in this erathere is no governmentand alsono law enforcement. Following the annihilation of the New Republic and the Resistance’s victory over the First Ordereveryone is simply trying to survive.

• At D23, a short clip was shown in which Ryan Gosling’s character catches a child playing with his starfighter. In another scene, his spaceship races across an alien landscape and is targeted by battle droids.

Kade Auberon fan art by @RolaRafal. Star Wars: Starfighter arrives May 28, 2027, only in theaters. pic.twitter.com/Si5QF5M9f9

— Star Wars (@starwars) August 16, 2026

Who does Ryan Gosling play in Star Wars: Starfighter?

• According to the latest news from D23, Ryan Gosling’s character is namedKade Auberon. He is described asa cynical loner with a mysterious pastwhois drawn into a dangerous adventure that leads him ona collision course with his own destiny

• Fans of the original canon will naturally take notice: The comic book series *Legacy* was set several hundred years after Episode 6 and centered on the Skywalker descendant Cade. Could this be hinting at a plot twist where Ryan Gosling might play a Skywalker?

• Ryan Gosling himself was also a guest on stage at D23, where he wore a jacket featuring an interesting logo:An inverted Starbird from the Rebel logo and two crossed blaster rifles form a sort of skull.And that looks pretty cool:

It’s currently unknown when the first trailer for Star Wars: Starfighter will officially hit the web. However, marketing for the next Star Wars movie should be kicking into high gear soon.

Maybe something will happen in conjunction with Avengers: Doomsday at the latest? That would likely give Disney maximum attention.