Ryan Gosling has officially entered the Star Wars universe. The first footage from Star Wars: Starfighter premiered at Disney’s D23 Expo on August 14, 2026. Director Shawn Levy and Gosling took the stage at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, to present the exclusive teaser to attendees.
The film marks Gosling’s first role in the legendary sci-fi franchise. He plays Kade Auberon, a pilot described as “a guy from the wrong side of the galaxy whose fate is intertwined with the fastest starfighter ever built”. The standalone movie is set five years after the events of 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
The D23 Teaser Shows Gosling’s Character And A Mysterious Young Boy
The 60-second teaser opened with a young boy, played by newcomer Flynn Gray, walking into a rusty spacecraft garage. He pulls a tarp off a decommissioned starfighter and touches its surface. Gosling’s Kade Auberon appears and says, “Didn’t I tell you not to touch anything?”.
The boy asks what the ship is. Kade replies, “It’s a decommissioned G17, the fastest straighter ever built”. When the boy says he has never heard of it, Kade responds, “There’s a reason for that”.
The teaser then showed quick shots of speeder bikes flying over alien landscapes, a skiff speeder moving through an oceanic world with tall spires, droids escaping from soldiers, and a mechanical bridge retracting. The footage ended with Kade looking at the full starfighter as the title appeared on screen.
Ryan Gosling’s Character Kade Auberon Is A Rogue Hero
Gosling described his character as someone “from the wrong side of the galaxy”. Kade Auberon is an ambitious pilot whose destiny is tied to the fastest ship ever built. The starfighter itself is a repurposed Imperial ship.
Director Shawn Levy told the D23 crowd that the film “embodies themes of hope and family and adventure” that the Star Wars franchise is known for, but “in a timeline never explored”. Levy also confirmed the film is neither a prequel nor a sequel. It is “a new adventure” set in a period fans have not seen before.
Levy brought Gosling on stage wearing a Mickey Mouse Club jacket. He had earlier trolled Gosling by showing a clip from The Mickey Mouse Club, where Gosling got his start. Gosling told the audience, “I owe a lot to Disney… and I’m now here 30 years later and I’m back and it’s changing my life again”.
Star-Studded Cast Includes Matt Smith, Mia Goth, And Amy Adams
Star Wars: Starfighter features an impressive ensemble cast. Alongside Gosling and Gray, the film stars Matt Smith (House of the Dragon), Mia Goth (Frankenstein), Aaron Pierre (Lanterns), Simon Bird (The Inbetweeners), Jamael Westman (Hedda), Daniel Ings (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), and six-time Oscar nominee Amy Adams.
Matt Smith is reportedly playing the villain, a warlord and arms dealer. Mia Goth is rumored to be a force-sensitive mercenary working for him. The film was written by Jonathan Tropper, who previously worked with Levy on The Adam Project.
Retro Poster Pays Tribute To 1977 Original
Along with the teaser, Lucasfilm released the first official poster for Star Wars: Starfighter. The poster features a retro version of the Star Wars logo. It is the same logo used for the original 1977 theatrical poster and has not been used on official Star Wars movie posters since 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back.
The choice is a fitting tribute as the franchise approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027. Levy noted from the stage that the film is releasing on the same weekend as the original Star Wars movie, 50 years later. “We didn’t even plan it that way, but I can’t imagine a bigger dream come true,” Levy said.
Trailer Leaks Online Despite Disney’s Copyright Efforts
Although Lucasfilm kept the teaser exclusive to D23 attendees, the footage quickly leaked online. Many audience members recorded the preview and uploaded it to X and Instagram. Disney responded with copyright takedown notices, removing most copies. Some versions have survived on various platforms.
Fans who were not at D23 will have to wait longer for an official release. Reports suggest the trailer might arrive in December, possibly attached to Avengers: Doomsday.
Fans React To The First Look
Social media reactions have been mixed but largely positive. Some fans expressed excitement about Gosling joining the franchise. Others remain cautious, given the mixed reception of recent Star Wars releases.
One fan on X wrote, “Oh it will be a fantastic film with Ryan Gosling. He looks good in his new role”. Another user said, “Not a fan of Levy but this was a solid teaser”. Some viewers noted it “seemed better than I expected”.
A theory has also emerged among die-hard fans. Some believe Gosling’s character Kade Auberon might be connected to Cade Skywalker, a character from the Star Wars expanded universe. One user posted, “Calling it now. He’s Cade Skywalker”. Another wrote, “Kade? Like Cade Skywalker or am I trippin”.
Gosling’s Busy Schedule Includes Ghost Rider And Project Hail Mary
Star Wars: Starfighter is one of several major projects for Gosling. He recently starred in Project Hail Mary and has been announced as the lead in Marvel’s Ghost Rider film, also directed by Shawn Levy. Gosling has publicly campaigned for the Ghost Rider role for years.
Levy previously directed Deadpool & Wolverine, which became the highest-grossing R-rated movie ever with $1.33 billion worldwide. He also directed Night at the Museum, Real Steel, and Free Guy.
Related:
Release Date And What To Expect
Star Wars: Starfighter is scheduled to release in theaters on May 28, 2027. The date marks the 50th anniversary of the original Star Wars film’s release. The movie will be available in IMAX as well.
The film takes place at the furthest point in the Star Wars timeline ever explored. It does not include any legacy characters like Rey Skywalker. Levy has confirmed there will be no secret cameos from previous films.
Filming wrapped at the end of 2025. The project was first announced in 2025, with Levy entering talks to direct a Star Wars movie in 2022. Development was paused in 2023 due to the WGA strike but resumed in 2024 when Tropper joined as writer.
Gosling spoke about Levy’s passion for the project in an interview with Collider. “It’s such a great story on its own, and the characters are amazing. The journey is epic,” Gosling said. “Shawn Levy, he’s got it. He’s got the tone. He’s got the enthusiasm for this. It’s infectious. Everybody involved is just sucked into his love”.
Keep up with VvipTimes for the latest updates on Star Wars, Marvel, and everything happening in Hollywood.
Leave a Reply