The universe of the galactic saga returns to show signs of life on the big screen with the First official look at Star Wars: StarfighterDirector Shawn Levy has posted a photo from the set on Instagram featuring Ryan Gosling alongside young actor Flynn Gray, confirming that production is moving forward and creating a very unusual image for the franchise.
After years of focusing on series, Lucasfilm prepares his return to the cinema with two titles: first will arrive The Mandalorian & Grogu, scheduled for May next year, and then it will be Starfighter's turn. This new feature film is conceived as a independent adventure which will incorporate new faces and a different atmosphere within the same distant galaxy.
A first look with a Mediterranean flavor
The photograph shared by Levy It shows Gosling and Gray on a platform or boat, with worn-out costumes and a weathered appearance. The filmmaker himself accompanied the post with the message "Somewhere in the Mediterranean" and a location in Sardinia (Italy), revealing a filming environment that is unusual for the series.
The marine setting is a departure from the more usual panoramas of Tatooine or Jakku. Even so, the frame shows that visual language of Star Wars that so many will identify at first, suggesting that, despite the novelty of the environment, the aesthetics of the franchise is still very present.
Cast and crew behind the project
In addition to Ryan Gosling and debutant Flynn Gray, the cast brings together names such as Amy Adams, Matt Smith, Mia Goth y Aaron Peter, alongside Simon Bird, Jamael Westman and Daniel Ings. The script is by Jonathan Tropper (The Adam Project), while Shawn Levy, known for Stranger Things and Deadpool and Wolverine, directed and produced with Kathleen Kennedy.
Filming began in August with work in the United Kingdom, and the machinery is already in motion. In fact, the saga's official website previously shared a black and white picture behind the scenes with Gosling and Gray posing next to a landspeeder, a classic nod among so many novelties.
Story and setting: a new stage after Episode IX
Starfighter is located approximately five years after The Rise of Skywalker (2019) and, according to Lucasfilm, will tell a completely new story set in a period not explored on screen. The project was born as independent film, with no direct links to the Skywalker saga, and with new characters.
Story details are being kept under wraps. Previous reports describe Flynn Gray's character as "a young man on the defensive" pursued by criminals, while Gosling's appearance on the set—worn clothes and weathered expression—cautiously suggests a profile of a survivor or possible smuggler. In any case, everything points to an approach more earthly and adventurous within that new time frame.
Star Wars release and return to theaters schedule
Lucasfilm has set the release date for Star Wars: Starfighter for May 28, 2027. Before that, in May 2026, the arrival in theaters of The Mandalorian & Grogu, which will break a seven-year drought without feature films in the series since 2019.
With filming underway and a release window already defined, it's reasonable to expect months of silence and the occasional teaser trailer. Even so, this first official glimpse, however brief, confirms the tone of the project and the bet on unusual scenarios within the imagination of Star Wars.
Everything shown so far draws a project that is based on a top-notch cast, a fresh setting, and a timeline with room to explore new stories. The combination of a calm sea that hides dangers and a well-established creative team suggests that Starfighter could expand the galaxy with a distinct approach, without losing the recognizable elements fans have come to expect.
