Star Wars: Starfighter arrives in theaters next May. After The Mandalorian and Grogu grossed only $345 million at the worldwide box office (a franchise low), all eyes are on Shawn Levy's movie to prove the franchise is still worthy of the big screen.
Set after the events of the sequel trilogy, the movie will explore a period in the Star Wars Galaxy that hasn't been explored in film, television, or publishing. Starfighter is also expected to usher in a new era of storytelling that takes place beyond the nine-episode Skywalker Saga, with it serving as something of a teaser for Jon Watts' Star Wars Episode X.
Levy has enlisted a stellar cast for Star Wars: Starfighter, including Lanterns star Aaron Pierre. The HBO series, set in DC Studios' DCU, was very grounded, but at least gave the actor a taste of cosmic action.
Now, thanks to reliable Star Wars leaker @fiveswalker, we have an update on Pierre's mysterious Star Wars role. According to this latest update, the Rebel Ridge actor will play a Jedi in Starfighter.
We don't have any additional insights, but Pierre is 32, which is two years younger than Rey actress Daisy Ridley. If she's aged up a little in this movie, anyway, then it won't be that hard to buy into him being one of the teachers in her new Jedi Academy.
"Being part of the Star Wars universe, you’re wondering if you have the capacity, and it takes courage to step into it because it’s enormous," Pierre previously said of heading into a Galaxy Far, Far Away.
He continued, "[People] ask me questions that I can’t answer because I am — as I’m sure you can tell — a very disciplined individual, and that includes NDAs. But Star Wars: Starfighter was just such a beautiful experience. Working with Shawn and Ryan, Kathy [Kathleen Kennedy, longtime Lucasfilm boss/producer], everybody. It was an experience of a lifetime."
"It’s a thrill. And it’s a dream. It’s a dream come true, for sure," Pierre added. When he was asked whether he's playing a hero or villain in the movie, the actor replied, "I mean, that’s going to be subjective, isn’t it?"
Star Wars: Starfighter's cast is led by Barbie star Ryan Gosling as Kade Auberon. Joining him are Flynn Gray (Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2), Matt Smith (House of the Dragon), Mia Goth (Infinity Pool), Aaron Pierre (Lanterns), Simon Bird (The Inbetweeners), Jamael Westman (Hedda), Daniel Ings (Lovesick), and Amy Adams (Man of Steel).
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.
This "Filmed For IMAX" release was shot with IMAX-certified cameras and will be released in a wide variety of formats, including IMAX 70mm in a select number of locations, for a story that takes place in an entirely new era of Star Wars storytelling and features all-new characters and locations.
Star Wars: Starfighter will be released theatrically on May 28, 2027.