Nothing says “trust us” like giving Star Wars to the guy who directed Big Fat Liar.
Let's talk about Star Wars: Starfighter—the freshly announced standalone project from Shawn Levy, officially landing in theaters May 28, 2027. That date matters. It's the 50th anniversary week of A New Hope. You don't drop a movie then unless you're trying to make a statement.
The message?
“We're starting over. Again.”
And this time, they're betting on Ryan Gosling as a post-Skywalker Saga Jedi who's training his teenage nephew while being hunted by a mysterious duo of villains. No lightsaber cameos from Obi-Wan. No Palpatine somehow returning. Just a self-contained narrative—presumably with more heart than hyperspace.
Cool idea. But is it the right move?
Star Power ≠ Star Wars Power
Let's not sugarcoat it. Lucasfilm's in rehab. Since The Rise of Skywalker, the franchise has fumbled its way through a mix of underwhelming TV spinoffs and canceled film slates (Rogue Squadron, anyone?).
Enter: Shawn Levy. The same guy behind Free Guy, The Adam Project, and Night at the Museum. Crowd-pleasers? Sure. Critics' darlings? Not so much.
Now pair him with Ryan Gosling—Mr. “I'm just Ken”—and you've got a curious alchemy: one of Hollywood's most interesting leading men dropped into one of its most unstable franchises. It's not a bad idea. But it's one we've seen before.
Remember when Disney bet big on Alden Ehrenreich in Solo? Star power doesn't guarantee lift-off. Especially not in a galaxy still nursing wounds from sequel fatigue.
A New Hope… Again
If this all feels familiar, it's because it is. Back in 2016, Rogue One promised a fresh, grounded take on the Star Wars universe. It delivered—and made over $1 billion. That success fueled the belief that standalone stories could thrive without Skywalkers.
But then came Solo. Box office dud. Franchise panic. Cue six years of cinematic radio silence.
What makes Starfighter different?
According to reports, it's set a few years after Rise of Skywalker, making it the first post-Episode IX film. That's a creative minefield: canon baggage, Skywalker fatigue, and fans who still argue about Rian Johnson like it's 2017.
Still, by focusing on a new Jedi and avoiding galactic politics (at least so far), Levy and co-writer Jonathan Tropper (yes, of This Is Where I Leave You infamy) are trying to carve a fresh path. One that's less operatic epic, more personal adventure.
High Risk, Low Nostalgia
There's something undeniably ballsy about launching a Star Wars film without a built-in fan-favorite. No Grogu. No Vader. No Leia deepfake. It's the equivalent of opening a Marvel movie without a post-credits tease—it might actually be… brave?
But brave doesn't mean bulletproof. Mikey Madison has already passed on a co-starring role. Greta Lee is rumored (read: not confirmed) to be circling a part. And the villains? Still nameless. That's either secrecy or scrambling. Either way, it's risky.
Meanwhile, Levy's ditching Marvel—where he's currently directing Deadpool & Wolverine—to commit fully to Lucasfilm. That's a big career pivot. One that says either “I believe in this story” or “I need a sabbatical from CGI explosions.”
Would you bet the future of Star Wars on the guy who directed The Internship?
Lucasfilm just did.
Let's not write Starfighter off. Gosling might be the shot of gravitas this franchise needs. And standalone storytelling could be the anti-fatigue medicine audiences crave.
But if this gamble fails? It won't just sting. It'll confirm the worst fears: that Star Wars, like the Jedi, needs more than hope to survive.
Your move, Lucasfilm.
Will this be a redemption arc—or the final nail?
