Ryan Gosling is Kade Auberon in Star Wars: Starfighter, and the first footage of Shawn Levy’s film has now screened — to the room at Disney’s D23 fan event in Anaheim.
Gosling took the stage in a Mickey Mouse Club jacket, a nod to his pre-fame years, then swapped it for one inspired by his character, complete with Kade’s inverted symbol on the back.
“Kade is a guy from the wrong side of the galaxy, whose fate is intertwined with the fastest starfighter ever built.”
Ryan Gosling
The teaser itself stayed in the room. Accounts of the footage describe Gosling’s pilot discovering a child, per IGN. Everyone else got a poster that reuses the original 1977 Star Wars logo — a design not seen on a film poster since The Empire Strikes Back in 1980. Starfighter opens the same weekend the original premiered 50 years earlier.
“I am so honored to release this film on the same weekend that the original film opened 50 years earlier.”
Shawn Levy
Levy says he drew on American car culture and films like American Graffiti and The Outsiders. “Starfighter embodies the themes of hope, family and adventure that have always been core to Star Wars, but our story takes place in a period of time that has never been seen before.”
Star Wars: Starfighter release date and timeline
The film is set five years after The Rise of Skywalker, in the 40 ABY era — the furthest point in the Star Wars timeline a film has reached. It is a standalone adventure, not part of the episodic saga.
Gosling is joined by Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings and Amy Adams. Kathleen Kennedy produces with Levy; the script is by Jonathan Tropper.
When Star Wars: Starfighter reaches UAE cinemas
UAE cinemas typically open Star Wars films the same weekend as the US, so VOX, Roxy and Reel should carry Starfighter from May 28, 2027. Tickets are not on sale yet. Fans can catch up on Maul: Shadow Lord, streaming on Disney+ now.
Meanwhile Gosling has other franchise business: he is Marvel’s Ghost Rider, for 2028.
Who is Kade Auberon in Star Wars: Starfighter?
Kade Auberon is a cynical rogue from the wrong side of the galaxy whose fate is tied to the fastest starfighter ever built — a repurposed Imperial ship. Ryan Gosling plays him.
What is Star Wars: Starfighter about?
When a cynical rogue is confronted by his mysterious past, he is hurled into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy that puts him on a crash course with destiny.
When is Star Wars: Starfighter released?
Star Wars: Starfighter opens in cinemas on May 28, 2027 — the same weekend the original Star Wars premiered 50 years earlier. UAE cinemas are expected to carry it the same weekend.
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