Ryan Gosling Is Coming to a Galaxy Far, Far Away, and I am Cautiously Hopeful

Okay, I'll admit it — I didn't have "Ryan Gosling joins Star Wars" on my 2024 bingo card, but here we are. It's official: Lucasfilm just announced Star Wars: Starfighter, a brand-new feature film starring Gosling himself, with Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy at the helm. It's set for a theatrical release on May 28, 2027, and if nothing else, this one's going to look good — Gosling doesn't do "phoning it in."

The film takes place about five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, and thank the maker, it'll feature completely new characters. No Skywalkers, no Palpatines, no "somehow, [insert villain] returned" — just a fresh story in the galaxy we love. We don't know much else about the plot, but if the title is any indication, expect starfighters, dogfights, and some very cool looking ships.

Gosling and Levy took the stage at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, and honestly? They sounded like fans. Gosling called the Force "the fans" saying "May the fans be with us" and wore a hat that said, "Never tell me the odds." It's cheesy, but you know what? I'll allow it.

Now look — I've been burned before. We all have. But between The Mandalorian & Grogu coming in 2026 and Starfighter dropping in 2027, it finally feels like Star Wars is remembering what made it special. And if Gosling is bringing even 10% of his Blade Runner 2049 energy to this, we might just be in for a wild ride.

Until then: May the cautious optimism be with us.