Ryan Gosling to Star in ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ Film, Announced in Japan/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Lucasfilm announced the next Star Wars film, Star Wars: Starfighter, at an event in Japan, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy. The new standalone adventure will debut in May 2027. Fans celebrated the reveal with lightsabers, cosplay, and collectibles.
‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ Unveiled in Japan with Ryan Gosling as Lead – Quick Look
- New Star Wars film “Starfighter” set for May 2027 release
- Ryan Gosling stars in the standalone story set post-Episode IX
- Directed by Shawn Levy (Stranger Things, Free Guy)
- Announcement made at Star Wars Celebration in Chiba, Japan
- Fans celebrated with cosplay, collectibles, and lightsaber duels
- No trailers released, but title reveal drew huge cheers
- Gosling shared nostalgic childhood photo of Star Wars bedsheets
- Japanese fans praised the series’ storytelling and samurai-like themes
Lightsabers Light Up Tokyo as Lucasfilm Announces ‘Starfighter’ with Ryan Gosling
Deep Looks
CHIBA, Japan (AP) — Lightsabers lit the air as thousands of Star Wars fans packed the Makuhari Messe convention center just outside Tokyo for a thrilling reveal: Lucasfilm’s next chapter in the galaxy far, far away will be Star Wars: Starfighter, hitting theaters in May 2027.
The announcement came Friday at Star Wars Celebration Japan, where Ryan Gosling made a surprise appearance to confirm his lead role in the upcoming film. Holding up a childhood photo of Star Wars-themed bedsheets.
Gosling told fans, “I guess I was dreaming about ‘Star Wars’ even before I saw the film.”
A New Saga Begins
Director Shawn Levy, known for Stranger Things and The Adam Project, told the cheering crowd that Starfighter would be a standalone adventure, neither a prequel nor sequel, and would introduce an entirely new cast of characters, set years after the events of Episode IX.
“I can’t say much about it because I understand the rules,” Levy joked.
“But filming starts later this year.”
No teaser or cast details were released beyond the title, but a giant screen reveal of the logo alone brought the crowd to its feet.
Celebration in Full Force
The multi-day Star Wars Celebration drew fans from across the globe, showcasing exclusive merchandise, cosplay competitions, and interactive exhibits. Among the most talked-about sights:
- A life-sized Darth Vader built entirely from LEGO bricks
- A limited-edition lacquered earphone set featuring Vader, priced at 990,000 yen ($7,000)
- More budget-friendly collectibles, like Darth Vader T-shirts for 8,000 yen ($56)
Fans From Around the Galaxy
Yoshiki Takahashi, a 26-year-old Japanese fan, beamed while operating a remote-controlled R2-D2.
“It makes me so happy to think everyone here loves ‘Star Wars,’” he said.
“It’s the story, the battles, the sound effects — and the human drama.”
Another fan, known only as Hiro, came fully suited in his self-made Mandalorian armor, complete with a plastic sword. Meanwhile, Raul Herrera, a teacher from Chile, attended with friends, dressed in Jedi robes.
“All of them,” Herrera said when asked which films he’s seen. “The commitment of the characters really speaks to me.”
Why ‘Star Wars’ Resonates in Japan
Star Wars has long had a strong fanbase in Japan, where audiences see echoes of samurai epics and the cinematic legacy of Akira Kurosawa in George Lucas’s space opera. Since its 1977 debut, the franchise has become one of the highest-grossing film series of all time, shaping global pop culture across generations.
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