Phil Roberts 
Ryan Gosling and Director Shawn Levy reveal new details about Star Wars: Starfighter at Disney’s D23 Expo.
So far, Disney’s D23 Expo has been nothing short of spectacular. We’ve already seen major reveals for Avengers: Doomsday, VisionQuest, X-Men, and Star Wars: Ahsoka, but the big finale belonged to Lucasfilm. Ryan Gosling and director Shawn Levy stormed onto the Lucasfilm panel to unveil exciting new details about Star Wars: Starfighter, and they wasted no time giving fans plenty to talk about.
Gosling rocked a glorious leather jacket inspired by his Starfighter character, complete with an intriguing inverted symbol across the back. After taking a trip down memory lane and reflecting on his early career, the actor turned his attention to his next adventure in a galaxy far, far away. The pair then unveiled a brand-new logo for the film before dropping the big reveal: we finally know who Gosling will play in Star Wars: Starfighter.
MEET KADE AUBERON
Gosling revealed that his character is called Kade Auberon, a guy from the wrong side of the galaxy, whose fate is intertwined with the fastest starfighter ever built. But when Kade, a notoriously 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.
The panel came to a thrilling close as the duo unveiled the first footage from the film, giving the lucky audience their first glimpse of Kade as he climbs aboard a Starfighter and blasts off into the depths of space, hotly pursued by a squadron of enemy craft. Sadly, the footage was reserved exclusively for those lucky enough to be in the room, leaving the rest of us to live vicariously through the descriptions. And if those early reactions are anything to go by, it sounds like Star Wars may have another winner waiting in the wings.
CAST & CREW
The film stars Gosling (Drive, Blade Runner, La La Land, Place Beyond the Pines, Barbie) as Kade Auberon, as well as Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams. “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.”
Directed by Shawn Levy, the film is produced by Levy and Kathleen Kennedy. Executive producers are Ryan Gosling, Dan Levine, Mary McLaglen, and Josh McLaglen. The script is by Jonathan Tropper.
RELEASE
So, there you have it. Star Wars: Starfighter has officially blasted onto our radar, and after everything revealed at D23, it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting new chapters in the galaxy far, far away. There’s still plenty we don’t know about the film, but if that first footage is anything to go by, Lucasfilm could have another spectacular adventure on its hands.
The wait is now officially on. Bring on Star Wars: Starfighter!
Star Wars: Starfighter will fly into cinemas on May 28, 2027.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
