Summary
- Star Wars: Starfighter is a new standalone film post-Mandalorian & Grogu, set for release in 2027.
- Speculation suggests the movie may focus on yet another Jedi, leading to oversaturation of the monk-like order.
- Diversifying narratives beyond the Jedi could keep Star Wars fresh and restore uniqueness to the franchise.
One of the biggest reveals to come crashing out of the gate at Star Wars Celebration 2025 was the confirmation of a new standalone, live-action film called Star Wars: Starfighter. However, there is some speculation concerning the plot that, if true, will be a massive disappointment.
Star Wars: Starfighter is a standalone, live-action film that will be released after The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is currently set for a 2026 release. Starfighter is slated to hit theaters on May 28, 2027. The movie will be directed by Shawn Levy of Stranger Things and Deadpool & Wolverine fame and star bona fide A-lister Ryan Gosling in the lead role.
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According to IGN, we don't have a lot of information about the film's plot, but we do know that it takes place about five years after the events o f Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It's also important to note that Starfighter shares a name with a series of video games that were released back during the PS2/Xbox era in the early 2000s.
The first game, released in 2001, was set during Episode I and focused on some of the pilots who participated in combat before and after the Battle of Naboo. Jedi Starfighter was released in 2002 and took place during the events of Episode II. It followed Jedi Master Adi Gallia and Nym, a pirate introduced in the first game. It doesn't seem likely that Disney will adapt any of the plot points featured in the games, as the new film is set quite a while after them.
Which brings us to the rumors floating around that Star Wars: Starfighter is going to focus on yet another Jedi story, which, if true, is a huge let-down, especially in the wake of successful films and television series focusing on other aspects of the Star Wars universe. For example, we have Rogue One and Andor, which have proven that fans are interested in characters and stories that don't involve Jedi space wizards, as cool as they are.
Star Wars Is Suffering From A Major Oversaturation of Jedi Narratives
Every kid born since the release of the original film in the mid-1970s has had to fight against his buddies on the playground to be a Jedi. And who can blame them? Laser swords, cool acrobatics, and the magical ability to move things with the Force? It really doesn't get cooler than that, right?
Fans aren't the only ones who know that. Executives at Lucasfilm and now Disney are well aware of the awesomeness of the Jedi and even their evil counterparts, the Sith. After all, these characters are primed for selling action figures, t-shirts, Halloween costumes, and much more. That's why we've seen the Jedi or Sith be the focal point of a ton of Star Wars content. Essentially, all the main films—Episodes 1-9—are centered around the Jedi and their role in balancing the forces of light and dark in the galaxy. How about Clone Wars, the animated series? Also, about Jedi. Star Wars: Rebels? Jedi.
Let's not forget about the mountains of Star Wars games dedicated to the world's favorite space wizards. You got Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi Survivor, Jedi Starfighter, Jedi Power Battles, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, and many others. There's gobs and gobs of Jedi-related content. It's getting a bit stale. That doesn't mean the studio should stop making stuff about the Jedi. These characters are the heart and soul of the franchise. But they don't have to be the sole focus of every piece of content that's released, either.
Sticking With The Jedi For The Majority Of Stories Causes A Lack Of Diverse Perspectives
If Star Wars: Starfighter focuses on yet another Jedi main character, the franchise would be losing out on providing fans with a diverse perspective concerning how events unfolding in the galaxy are impacting other people. What is living in a state of existence alongside super-powerful beings who can move stuff with their minds, like regular folk just trying to live their lives in peace?
There are a plethora of unexplored factions within Star Wars. How about bounty hunters and smugglers? Or a society of droids? Regular pilots, the grunts who do the vast majority of the universe-saving, while the Jedi swoop in and get the glory? A film called Star Wars: Starfighter should, logically, focus on one of these kinds of characters. The title seems to indicate as much.
If Nearly Every Single Star Wars Tale Is About The Jedi, It Makes Them Seem Less Unique
From the outset of the Star Wars films, the audience is told that the Jedi have all been killed, except for one, who lives on a desert world with twin suns and has no idea he can use the Force, wield a lightsaber, or do anything cool. He's just a regular kid looking at the stars and fantasizing about finding his place in the galaxy.
Well, it turns out there's another. Obi-Wan Kenobi. And another. Yoda. Then Princess Leia, Rey, Grogu, and many others. Turns out there are a lot of people who are Force-sensitive, so maybe the Jedi aren't that special after all, as they keep appearing out of thin air.
The Empire did a horrible job of carrying out Order 66 if they missed all these folks. Finding a Jedi or a person who could potentially become a Jedi was supposed to be a rarity, making these kinds of characters special. Not anymore. In fact, if Star Wars: Starfighter continues this trend, it runs the risk of causing audiences to burn out on the Jedi and lose interest.
The Jedi have some amazing powers and skills that have delighted fans for decades with dazzling effects, high-stakes stories, and character betrayals. But there's more to Star Wars than just these super-cool interstellar monks. Varying the kinds of characters we get to know in future content will help keep the franchise fresh and restore the Jedi to a place of uniqueness in the universe.
