The Star Wars universe took centre stage at Disney’s D23 fan convention, held at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Friday evening. During the entertainment presentation, Lucasfilm President Dave Filoni unveiled details of what lies ahead across the franchise, with the headline moment being a first trailer for the forthcoming film, Starfighter.
Originally announced in early 2025, Starfighter is scheduled to reach cinemas on 28 May 2027. Ryan Gosling and Flynn Gray lead the cast. Gosling appeared on stage wearing a jacket bearing a skull and crossbones, the emblem of his character, whose name was revealed as Kade Auberon. He described the part as a life-changing role before introducing the trailer.
The story is set five years after the events of 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, and the trailer teases Gosling piloting what is billed as the fastest starfighter ever built. Gosling plays a gifted pilot tasked with protecting the young boy portrayed by Gray. The wider ensemble includes Aaron Pierre, Mia Goth, Amy Adams, Daniel Ings, Jamael Westman, Simon Bird and House of the Dragon star Matt Smith.
Shawn Levy is directing. Speaking at the Star Wars Celebration in Japan last year, he described the project as a stand-alone story, saying it is neither a prequel nor a sequel, but a new adventure set in a period that has not yet been explored on screen.
Ahsoka Season 2 Marks Hayden Christensen’s Return
Filoni was joined on stage by Ahsoka live-action star Rosario Dawson, Eman Esfandi, who plays Ezra Bridger, and Hayden Christensen, who portrayed Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episodes II and III.
Anakin featured heavily in Ahsoka Tano’s original story in the animated Clone Wars series, and Christensen’s return to the role during the first season of Ahsoka came in a pivotal episode. His involvement in the second season appears to include flashbacks to Ahsoka’s past and an appearance as a guiding Force ghost in the present.
The teaser trailer showed Christensen leading Ahsoka towards, potentially, becoming a Jedi once more. Ahsoka season 2 will stream on Disney Plus from 20 January 2027.
Original Star Wars Film Returns to Cinemas
To mark the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, first released in 1977, the original film will be re-released in its original form in cinemas next year.
