By George & Josh Bate
Fresh off the theatrical release of The Mandalorian and Grogu this summer, Lucasfilm and Disney were excited to preview the world exclusive first footage of its next cinematic adventure in a galaxy far, far away at this year’s D23: The Ultimate Fan Expo.
During the Disney Entertainment Showcase at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, director Shawn Levy and star Ryan Gosling came on stage to talk about Star Wars: Starfighter, their upcoming Star Wars movie releasing May 28, 2027.
A new logo for Star Wars: Starfighter was shown during the presentation and can be seen below….
Levy revealed that Ryan Gosling’s character is named Kade Auberon. “Kade is a guy from the wrong side of the galaxy whose fate is intertwined with the fastest starfighter ever built,” Levy described.
Ryan Gosling was welcomed on stage to a montage of his time on Disney Channel’s The All-New Mickey Mouse Club from the mid-1990s. He walked out wearing a Mickey Mouse jacket, although Levy soon after gave Gosling a replacement. The back of the jacket features what Levy described as Kade’s symbol, which appears at first glance to look like the iconic symbol of The Punisher. But if one looks closely, Kade’s symbol is the symbol of the Rebel Alliance turned upside down.
“I owe a lot to Disney,” Gosling said. “Had they not looked far and wide and come to my hometown, I would not be here today. And now here I am 30 years later… I’m back and it’s changing my life again.”
Levy and Gosling then presented a brief trailer for Star Wars: Starfighter, giving the lucky Honda Center attendees the world exclusive first look of the next theatrical adventure in a galaxy far, far away.
“I am so honored to release this film on the same weekend that the original film opened 50 years earlier,” Levy said.
In discussing the movie’s themes, Levy remarked, “Starfighter embodies the themes of hope, family and adventure that have always been core to Star Wars, but our story takes place in a period of time that has never been seen before which has been a privilege to create and explore.”
Levy elaborated on the heart and spirit of the movie. “This Star Wars story is firmly rooted in character, brought to life by these amazing actors,” Levy said, “and all within an adventure that’s filled with humor, danger, spectacle and the joyous spirit that has been the beating heart of this 50 year legacy that we all love so much.”
An official plot description for the film was published on StarWars.com….
In Starfighter, when a cynical rogue is confronted by his mysterious past, he is hurled into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy that puts him on a crash course with destiny.
Keep reading for a detailed description of the footage shown from Star Wars: Starfighter….
The footage begins with young actor Flynn Gray facing the camera in what appears to be the interior of small holding bay for vehicles. He approaches a small starfighter with his hand out and, right as he is about to touch it, a voice warns him not to. “Didn’t I tell you not to touch anything?” the voice asks.
From the background, Ryan Gosling’s Kade Auberon emerges. After reprimanding the teenager, Kade tells him about the starfighter he is so impressed by. Kade notes that it is a recommissioned Imperial starship that is the fastest in the galaxy. “It’s a decommissioned G17,” Kade remarks. “The fastest starfighter ever built.” He sounds an awful lot like Han Solo the first time he described the Millennium Falcon to Luke Skywalker and Ben Kenobi in A New Hope.
The footage then edits between a number of quick images. A speeder bike is seeing traveling across land. Gosling’s character prepares to land a ship. A new water planet is depicted in which massive columns of water emerge from the ocean and up into the clouds.
Star Wars: Starfighter takes place approximately five years after The Rise of Skywalker and, in turn, will be the furthest along story in Star Wars canon to date. Gosling and Gray are joined by an all-star cast that includes Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre, Mia Goth, and Matt Smith.