Lucasfilm Announces Star Wars: Starfighter at Celebration for May 2027 Release

During today’s Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Japan, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni announced a new upcoming Star Wars theatrical release. The new film, Star Was: Starfighter will open in theaters on May 28, 2027. The film will be directed by Shawn Levy and Stars Ryan Gosling.

Lucasfilm describes the film as a new “standalone adventure” taking place five years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. It starts production later this fall. The story follows all-new characters and will feature a new adventure set in a period of time that has yet to be explored onscreen.

The new standalone adventure marks the next theatrical Star Wars event after the franchise returns to theaters next year with The Mandalorian & Grogu, which arrives on May 22, 2026. The film interestingly shares a title with a 2001 Star Wars video game developed by LucasArts set in the prequel trilogy era. It’s unknwon if there is any connection between the new film and the original video game.

Levy is fresh off of directing and producing Deadpool & Wolverine for another Disney subsidiary, Marvel Studios. He also worked as a director and producer for the popular Netflix series, Stranger Things. Gosling is coming off Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his critically acclaimed role as Ken in Barbie. His upcoming sci-fi adventure film, Project Hail Mary, hits theaters on March 20, 2026.

Star Wars: Starfighter comes to theaters on May 28, 2027. #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/dsbVb3VdBY

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 18, 2025