In a significant casting update for Lucasfilm’s upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, Matt Smith, known for his roles in House of the Dragon and Doctor Who, has been confirmed to join the cast as a villain. The film, set to star Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy, is gearing up for production this fall, with a theatrical release scheduled for May 28, 2027. Mia Goth, acclaimed for her performances in X and Pearl, is also on board, playing another antagonist in this highly anticipated standalone Star Wars film.
Smith’s addition to the cast marks his first official foray into the Star Wars universe, following a previously reported but unrealized role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. Sources (via Deadline) indicate that Smith will portray one of multiple villainous characters, with Lucasfilm still seeking a female antagonist to round out the ensemble. The casting process has been active in recent weeks, with Levy personally meeting several actors before the decision was made to bring Smith on board for what is described as a pivotal villain role.
Ryan Gosling, a three-time Oscar nominee for Barbie, La La Land, and Half Nelson, leads the film as the protagonist. His involvement was first reported in January 2025, when news broke that he was in talks to join Levy’s Star Wars project, which had been in development for two years with screenwriter Jonathan Tropper. Tropper, who previously collaborated with Levy on The Adam Project and This Is Where I Leave You, penned the script for Starfighter. The film is a standalone story, set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and is not connected to the core Skywalker Saga.
Mia Goth’s casting was announced in June 2025, positioning her as a key villain and marking a historic moment for the franchise, as she becomes the first leading female antagonist in a theatrical Star Wars film. Goth, whose horror credentials include Ti West’s X trilogy, is expected to bring a unique intensity to the role, which was previously considered for actress Mikey Madison before negotiations fell through.
Director Shawn Levy, fresh off the success of Deadpool & Wolverine, which grossed $1.3 billion globally and became the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time, is helming Star Wars: Starfighter. His prior collaborations with Gosling and Tropper have built a strong creative foundation for the project, which is one of several Star Wars films in development at Lucasfilm, including projects by James Mangold, Simon Kinberg, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. However, Starfighter is on a fast track, with production set to begin soon, making it the second Star Wars theatrical release after The Mandalorian & Grogu, slated for May 22, 2026.
What Star Wars: Starfighter Is About
Details about Star Wars: Starfighter were first revealed at Star Wars Celebration 2025, held in Tokyo, Japan, from April 18 to April 20. During the event, Shawn Levy and Ryan Gosling made a surprise appearance alongside Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and chief creative officer Dave Filoni, announcing the film’s title and confirming its standalone nature. Levy emphasized that Starfighter is neither a prequel nor a sequel but a fresh adventure set in a previously unexplored period, approximately five years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The film introduces new characters, with Gosling playing a protagonist tasked with protecting a child from evil pursuers, among them the villains portrayed by Smith and Goth.
While the title Starfighter shares its name with a 2001 Star Wars video game set before The Phantom Menace, Lucasfilm has clarified that the film has no direct connection to the game’s story. The title likely hints at a focus on starfighter pilots, with Gosling’s character potentially affiliated with the New Republic or another faction in the Star Wars galaxy. Exact plot details remain under wraps, but the narrative is expected to explore new corners of the franchise’s universe, distinct from the Jedi-Sith dynamics of the Skywalker Saga.
With a stellar cast, a proven director, and a fresh take on the Star Wars universe, Starfighter is poised to be a major cinematic event when it hits theaters in May 2027. As production ramps up, fans can expect further casting announcements and additional details about this bold new chapter in the galaxy far, far away.
Source: Deadline
