Star Wars: Starfighter - Plot and Timeline Details Revealed

The biggest announcement from Star Wars Celebration 2025 was the unveiling of Deadpool & Wolverine's Shawn Levy as the director of Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone, live-action film featuring Ryan Gosling. Set to hit theaters on May 28, 2027, following The Mandalorian and Grogu in 2026, production for Starfighter is scheduled to commence this fall.

Although details about the plot remain scarce, one key fact has been disclosed: Starfighter takes place approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, marking it as the furthest point on the Star Wars timeline explored in film or series to date. This period remains largely uncharted in Star Wars lore, leaving fans eager to learn more.

With the ending of The Rise of Skywalker and insights from the pre-Disney Legends universe, we can speculate on what this era might hold. Let's delve into the pressing questions following The Rise of Skywalker and how Starfighter might address them.

Every Upcoming Star Wars Movie and TV Show

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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. Despite the shared name, the new movie is unlikely to borrow much from the plots of these games, which are set during Episodes I and II. However, the ship-to-ship combat featured in Jedi Starfighter, enhanced by Force powers, could inspire similar action sequences in the film. Could Gosling's character be a Jedi pilot? This remains a tantalizing possibility.

The Fate of the New Republic

While The Rise of Skywalker ends with the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the Sith Eternal, the fate of the New Republic remains ambiguous. After the destruction of Hosnian Prime by the First Order's Starkiller Base, the New Republic's leadership was decimated. The ongoing conflict between Populists and Centrists, as seen in Star Wars: Bloodline, suggests a weakened Republic struggling to rebuild.

Additionally, the question of whether remnants of the First Order still exist five years after Palpatine's defeat lingers. Historical precedents, like the Empire's lingering presence post-Endor and the rise of the Imperial Remnant, suggest that some factions of the First Order might still be active. This scenario could set the stage for a power struggle in the galaxy, ripe for epic space battles, as seen in the chaotic post-Empire era with rampant piracy.

Gosling might portray a New Republic pilot fighting to restore order or a local defender in a world left to fend for itself. As a standalone film, Starfighter might focus on the aftermath of The Rise of Skywalker, with a villain exploiting the current power vacuum.

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 the Jedi Temple. While many Jedi were killed, some might have survived, similar to those who evaded Order 66. The status of Ahsoka Tano during the Sequel era is unclear, though her voice among the Force ghosts suggests she might still be active.

Rey Skywalker's mission to rebuild the Jedi Order, set to be explored in the upcoming New Jedi Order movie, occurs 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 connection to the Force. If he is Force-sensitive, Rey might appear to guide him; if not, the film may focus on non-Jedi heroes.

Are the Sith Still Around?

The definitive defeat of Palpatine raises questions about the Sith's survival. Historically, the Expanded Universe suggests that Sith Lords can reemerge, as seen with Darth Krayt in Star Wars: Legacy. The presence of other Dark Side users, like the Nightsisters and Maul, indicates that the Dark Side's influence may persist even without formal Sith.

Whether Starfighter will delve into this remains uncertain. If Gosling's character isn't a Jedi, the film might not explore the Sith's 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 with Gosling, set in a period not yet explored in the franchise. As a standalone movie, it might not feature many familiar faces. However, Star Wars often includes cameos and callbacks.

Poe Dameron, the galaxy's top pilot post-Han Solo, could return to help rebuild the New Republic. Chewbacca might also reappear, possibly alongside Gosling's character in the Millennium Falcon. Finn's storyline could intersect with the film if it involves remnants of the First Order, while Rey's appearance might hinge on whether Gosling's character is a Jedi.

Which surviving character from The Rise of Skywalker would you most like to see in Star Wars: Starfighter? Share your thoughts in the comments below.