A New Star Wars Era
Star Wars: Starfighter Trailer Unveils New Post-Skywalker Era with Ryan Gosling and Flynn Gray
Lucasfilm officially unveiled the first footage of *Star Wars: Starfighter* at the 2026 D23 Expo in Anaheim, California, giving fans their first real look at the franchise's next big chapter. The film stars Ryan Gosling and is set to hit theaters in 2027, according to MovieWeb.
The movie marks the furthest point forward in the Star Wars timeline, according to Head Topics. Gosling plays a pilot named Kade Auberon. Director Shawn Levy wrapped principal photography in December 2025, leaving nearly 18 months for post-production.
Ryan Gosling Steps Into the Star Wars Universe
Ryan Gosling makes his Star Wars debut as Kade Auberon, a starfighter pilot. The character navigates a galaxy set further into the future than any previous Star Wars film or show. CBR reported that Gosling's role was one of the most-anticipated reveals at D23.
The film also stars Flynn Gray. Shawn Levy directs from a script by Jonathan Tropper. Levy is best known for directing *Deadpool & Wolverine*, making him a proven hand at big-budget action films for Disney.
D23 Footage Sets a New Tone for the Saga
Disney chose the 2026 D23 Expo to drop the first look at *Starfighter*. The footage was shown in Anaheim alongside other major Star Wars announcements. Head Topics described the reveal as one of the headline moments of the event.
*Starfighter* is positioned as a sequel to *The Mandalorian and Grogu*, according to CBR. That places it firmly in the post-Skywalker Saga continuity. Disney is using it to anchor the next phase of Star Wars storytelling on the big screen.
Production Wrapped, Long Post-Production Window Ahead
Principal photography ran from August to December 2025. That gives Lucasfilm roughly 18 months of post-production before the film's planned theatrical release. MovieWeb noted that the long runway should allow for extensive visual effects work.
Star Wars films are known for complex VFX pipelines. The extra time is likely critical for a story set in a brand-new era with new ships, planets, and characters to build from scratch.
Star Wars Ahsoka Season 2 Also Revealed at D23
*Starfighter* was not the only Star Wars news at D23. The first trailer for *Star Wars: Ahsoka* Season 2 also premiered at the expo. Head Topics reported that the series stars Rosario Dawson in the title role, alongside Natasha Liu Bordizzo and Rory McCann.
The back-to-back reveals signal that Disney is pushing hard on multiple Star Wars fronts at once — both on Disney+ and in theaters. The franchise is clearly entering a new and busy chapter.
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