Star Wars is in a weird space, financially and creatively. The last few outings that the franchise has had at the box office have generated a lot of negative chatter. Creative choices that the company banked on wholesale have resulted in financial and social losses that the company is going to try to pivot away from.
While the next outing that the franchise is going to have is The Mandalorian & Grogu, scheduled to release in theaters on May 22, 2026, marking the franchise’s first theatrical outing in seven years since 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, behind-the-scenes excitement seems to be leaning more towards a different film. Variety reports Shawn Levy’s Ryan Gosling-led Star Wars: Starfighter seems to have captured the expectations of execs. This bodes well for Gosling and the Deadpool & Wolverine director, who might just be able to revive the franchise.
Star Wars: Starfighter Footage Has Wowed Audiences Behind-The-Scenes
Star Wars: Starfighter | Credits: Lucasfilm
As reported by Variety, there seems to be big hopes for Star Wars: Starfighter. When The Mandalorian and Grogu teaser at the Super Bowl failed to make the splash that Disney expected, excitement for the film seems to have tanked in the back end.
Behind-the-scenes sources seem delighted by Ryan Gosling’s performance as the lead in Star Wars: Starfighter. The film is set to pick up five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The film will be a first look into the events following the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga. Given the positive reactions that Variety has reported, Shawn Levy may have managed to capture the spirit of the franchise.
Fans have decried the House of Mouse for losing the plot when it comes to Star Wars, given the abysmal reception of the Sequel Trilogy and projects like The Acolyte. However, it seems Levy has managed to break that curse, so that the franchise can finally move forward into a new era.
Star Wars: Starfighter Could Be Another Career-Defining Role For Ryan Gosling
Positive feedback from industry members bodes well for Ryan Gosling. Since the wrapping up of the Sequel Trilogy, Star Wars seems to have focused on smaller narratives that have pulled the franchise in multiple directions. Starfighter‘s success could not only define the franchise but also make Gosling a key component of the Star Wars universe.
Shawn Levy has managed to get into Disney’s good graces as well. Free Guy and Deadpool & Wolverine have both been great successes for the House of Mouse. Now, collaborating with Ryan Gosling, it seems the director is on the road to another success. Deadpool & Wolverine‘s box office collection might have been the reason behind the confidence that the director has received from Disney.
Star Wars has multiple projects in progress. Simon Kinberg is working on a new trilogy set after the events of Rise of Skywalker.
In a February 2025 interview with Deadline, Kennedy confirmed the trilogy is actively in progress, saying:
We’re absolutely rolling fast and furiously. That has gone exceptionally well, and he’s literally going to script as we speak, the next iteration, the new saga that moves us into the future.
Numerous other filmmakers, like James Mangold and Taika Waititi, also have projects that are being worked on. However, fans have speculated that they might be quietly canceled if Disney finds a better heading for the franchise. By the looks of it, Star Wars: Starfighter might have given the franchise just that. Could you see Ryan Gosling becoming the next face of Star Wars?
FilmStar Wars: StarfighterDirectorShawn LevyCastRyan Gosling, Amy Adams, Mia Goth, Matt Smith, Daniel Ings. Production CompaniesLucasfilm, 21 Laps Entertainment StatusPost-Production
Star Wars: Starfighter is currently slated to hit theatres on May 28, 2027.
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