The Force is strong with this one! Lucasfilm has just dropped the first official trailer for Star Wars: Starfighter during the highly anticipated D23 event, and it’s packed with enough nostalgia and fresh ideas to get any Star Wars fan buzzing. We finally got a glimpse of Ryan Gosling in action as Kade Auberon, a pilot with a mysterious past.
A Pilot’s Story Begins
The trailer opens with a poignant scene: Ryan Gosling’s character, now confirmed as Kade Auberon, discovers a child playing with his decommissioned starfighter. “There’s a reason it was decommissioned,” Kade remarks, hinting at a deeper story yet to be revealed. We then see Kade soaring through breathtaking alien landscapes, dodging blaster fire from relentless droids, while his own droid companion provides crucial assistance. The classic Star Wars feel is definitely present!
A New Adventure in a Familiar Galaxy
During a live appearance at D23, director Shawn Levy playfully handed Gosling a new jacket emblazoned with the symbol of Kade Auberon. This standalone film, as Director Shawn Levy emphasized during Star Wars Celebration 2025, is “a new adventure” set in an unexplored era of the Star Wars timeline. Crucially, and much to the relief of some purists, Starfighter will not feature any “legacy characters,” meaning no cameos from familiar faces like Rey Skywalker.
The cast also includes Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Flynn Gray, promising a diverse and compelling ensemble. Star Wars: Starfighter is currently slated for release on May 28, 2027. For those who missed the D23 extravaganza, you can find everything announced at D23 2026 right here.
Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney.
Source: IGN Gaming
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