Editor's Note: Star Wars Celebration 2025 Japan revealed that Shawn Levy's film is called Star Wars: Starfighter and confirmed that Ryan Gosling will star in the film. The release date is 2027 for Star Wars' 50th anniversary. See the full recap here. This article was written prior to the reveal. However, the author's thoughts and opinions still stand.
For a while now, Shawn Levy’s Star Wars movie has felt like one of those galaxy-brained ideas that might just float in the void forever — a cool "what if?" without any concrete momentum. But that narrative may finally be shifting, thanks to some updates from writer Jonathan Tropper and Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy.
In a new interview with ScreenRant, Tropper, who previously teamed up with Levy on The Adam Project, offered a rather tantalizing hint about the project's progress. While remaining tight-lipped on specifics, Tropper responded to excitement about the movie with, "I hope it's on the way sooner than you think."
Normally, I’d brush that off as the usual development-stage optimism, but this one feels different. For one, it's their fourth project together, meaning there’s a real creative rhythm here. And second, Tropper’s choice of words isn’t a non-answer — it’s a nudge.
This comes on the heels of some unexpected but major clarity from Kathleen Kennedy herself, who revealed that she’s currently producing both The Mandalorian and Grogu and Shawn Levy's Star Wars movie, specifically saying Levy’s movie comes after the former. With The Mandalorian and Grogu set for a May 2026 release, this implies Levy’s film is firmly in line and potentially already building toward production.
That's a big shift from how this project has been perceived. Until recently, Levy’s Star Wars movie felt like a "maybe someday" in a sea of shelved or quietly canceled Star Wars experiments. But between Kennedy’s comments and Tropper’s coy enthusiasm, it now sounds like the wheels are actually turning, possibly even this year.
And then there’s that Ryan Gosling rumor.
If Gosling truly is in talks for the lead role, I’ll be honest — I'm here for it. He might not be the name fans expected, and yes, he'll stir up debate, but that’s not a bad thing. Gosling is more versatile than he's often credited for, with layered performances in The Place Beyond the Pines, Blade Runner 2049, and yes, even La La Land. He brings introspection and presence, both of which could be invaluable in a character navigating a universe that is rife with war, politics, and identity.
At this point, we know very little about the plot or tone of Levy’s vision for the franchise, but I'm optimistic that mystery could be a strength. Levy's shown he can do heartfelt (Free Guy), stylish (Deadpool & Wolverine), and emotionally grounded sci-fi (The Adam Project). Star Wars could use that balance again.
With a franchise as massive (and often chaotic) as this one, it's hard to get excited about any single project too early — but Shawn Levy's Star Wars movie feels like one worth watching. If everything goes as hinted, it may not just be real — it may be next.
And if Ryan Gosling ends up wielding a lightsaber or piloting something across the stars? Even better.