Star Wars’ upcoming Ryan Gosling-led film,Star Wars: Starfighter, is making franchise history in two surprising ways. Directed by Shawn Levy, verylittle has been revealed aboutStar Wars: Starfighter, though the movie’s latest casting news does prove that the franchise is moving in a surprisingly different direction.The film, which Levy has confirmed is a standalone story, will see Gosling’s character protect a youngling from dangerous, yet-to-be-named hunters, and is reportedly set to start production this fall.
Not only willStar Wars: Starfighterbe the firstStar Warsfilm not directly (or indirectly) linked to the Skywalker saga or any otherStar Warssub-franchise –The Mandalorian and Groguis part ofStar Wars’mega-popularMandalorianfranchise, after all – but it will also be set in a previously unexplored part of theStar Warstimeline, a few years after the events ofStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. That makesStarfighter’s unconventional casting and character choices all the more exciting.
Star Wars: Starfighter Is Depending On Star Casting In A Surprising Way
PreviousStar Warsmovies, especially those produced or directed by George Lucas, opted to cast relatively unknown or up-and-coming actors for their biggest roles, rather than banking on big, established Hollywood stars. Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford were fresh faces in Hollywood, and Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, and even Natalie Portman were all still at the start of their acting careers.
The same was true for Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, and Adam Driver. Though the latter two, especially, had previous experience and some great roles, none cemented them as bona fide movie stars. While there have been a few notable exceptions to this unofficial rule, like Alec Guinness, Liam Neeson, Samuel L. Jackson, and Emilia Clarke’sStar Warscastings, actors of that caliber usually occupied side characters or other minor roles withinStar Wars’storytelling.
Ryan Gosling’s leading role inStar Wars: Starfighteris, therefore, a surprising change of pace. Gosling is one of Hollywood’s most in-demand actors, with recent performances in movies likeBarbie,The Fall Guy,The Gray Man, andBlade Runner 2049showcasing his range as a strong comedic, action-oriented, and dramatic actor, all skills that will come in handy when leading a newStar Warsmovie.
We Have Our First Female Main Villain
More recently,Starfightercast its primary villain, with notable horror actressMia Goth joining Gosling in an as-yet-unnamed role.Goth, known for her electrifying performances in psychological horror hits likeXandPearl, will portray the first leading female villain in a theatricalStar Warsmovie, building on Gwendoline Christie’s groundbreaking role as tertiary villain Captain Phasma in theStar Warssequel trilogy.
Goth’s horror roots could provide a unique new edge toStarfighter’s mysterious, leading villain.
Goth may not be as stunningly famous as Ryan Gosling, but she’s certainly a well-known name in Hollywood and beyond, and given her background, it’s exciting to see what she’ll be able to bring to such a historicStar Warsrole. ThoughI don’t believeStarfighterwill (or should) include the Sithin its story, Goth’s horror roots could provide a unique new edge toStarfighter’s mysterious, leading villain.
Starfighter Is A Mystery… But We’ll Surely Know More Soon
So far, most ofStar Wars: Starfighter’s details are being kept tightly under wraps, and this may remain true for a while yet. Except forA New Hope, each previousStar Warsmovie has been able to market itself through its connection to the wider saga; they haven’t needed to rely on big-name stars.
The Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jediwere direct sequels to the first-everStar Warsmovie. TheStar Warsprequels promised to unravel the mystery of Darth Vader, andSolo: A Star Wars Storyfocused on a legacy character.Rogue One: A Star Wars Storywas a prequel toA New Hope, and the sequel trilogy continued the Skywalker saga. All of these movies presented a narrative reason for audiences, both casual and investedStar Warsfans, to tune in.Starfighteris instead trying something wholly new.
Gosling and Goth are currentlyStarfighter’s biggest draws, andStar Warswill undoubtedly rely on their star power to boost viewers’ excitementfor the film as it goes into production later this year. Presumably, we’ll learn more about the rest of the cast once filming begins in earnest, but there’s also a chance Lucasfilm will choose to hide behind Gosling and Goth’s involvement, as it were, before the film’s major marketing push begins closer to its release date. Currently,Star Wars: Starfighter’s story is a mystery, and that makes it all the more exciting.
The Mandalorian and Grogu
