Rumor has it that there's a new villain being cast in the next standalone entry in the Star Wars universe. Star Wars: Starfighter has a scheduled release date of May 28, 2027. The upcoming movie stars Ryan Gosling and is directed by Shawn Levy. The film takes place five to six years after The Rise of Skywalker and now looks to be adding a new villain to the mix.
A New Star Wars Adventure
Director Shawn Levy directed the recently heralded Deadpool & Wolverine and the lesser known but no less entertaining The Adam Project. Writer Jonathan Tropper (who also worked on The Adam Project) joins him at the helm of Star Wars: Starfighter.
“We’re fans too,” Levy said to an exuberant crowd at the Star Wars Celebration. “There’s obviously a relationship between these stories and the audience, but we’ve spent our lives in that audience. We know how meaningful it is.” Gosling donned a cap reading, “Never tell me the odds," adding, "It’s such a great reminder of how much movies can mean to us, specifically how much these movies mean to us."
Matt Smith Joins the Dark Side
Breaking the rumor mill wide open, Deadline reports that Matt Smith, known for Doctor Who and House of the Dragon, has landed a key villain role in Starfighter. Smith has been rumored for a Star Wars role before—once nearly cast in The Rise of Skywalker—but this marks his official turn into the universe.
After a multi-year hiatus from theatrical releases—since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019—the Star Wars universe has been hit or miss on Disney+. While The Mandalorian and Andor drew large crowds and viewership, shows like The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew received much less attention. Even Ahsoka—as good as it was—felt like it missed the mark.
Starfighter marks the return to big-screen storytelling, following The Mandalorian & Grogu in 2026. These movies have a chance to reignite the epic storytelling and larger-than-life nature of the Star Wars universe in a massive way.
Lucasfilm’s decision to cast Gosling—a star known for balancing intensity with charm—and Levy, who delivered blockbuster success with a comic touch, signals a strategic move to invigorate theatrical Star Wars with emotional stakes and broader appeal.
Matt Smith’s casting further cements that direction. His ability to play charismatic antagonists, coupled with the fan base he brings from genre franchises, suggests a villain that could rival classics like Vader and Maul.
Star Wars: Starfighter looks poised to help reboot theatrical Star Wars with fresh energy. New lead characters, a major genre director in Levy, and compelling villain talent in Matt Smith suggest Lucasfilm is doubling down on smart, heart-led storytelling instead of nostalgia by numbers.
This film promises adventure, emotional resonance, and original myth‑building. If Gosling delivers the heroic charm audiences expect, and Smith matches it with sinister gravitas, Starfighter could mark a new chapter for Star Wars cinema’s next decade.