- Primary Subject: Star Wars: Starfighter
- Key Update: The standalone film wrapped production and enters post-production with an entirely new cast separate from the Skywalker Saga.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: June 19, 2026
- Quick Answer: Star Wars: Starfighter features a brand-new cast, including Ryan Gosling and Matt Smith, because it takes place five years after The Rise of Skywalker.
For the first time in over a decade, Star Wars will feature a new cast lineup when it returns to the big screen in 2027 with Star Wars: Starfighter.
The franchise has typically followed the same core characters, focusing on their interconnected stories and journeys. New characters are usually introduced when a new trilogy begins.
But while a new trilogy isn’t set to begin yet, Starfighter is set to feature an entirely new roster of characters never before seen in the franchise.
Who Is in the Cast of Star Wars: Starfighter?
True to Star Wars’ fashion, details about Star Wars: Starfighter remain under wraps, but Lucasfilm and Disney have officially announced its cast, and all of them are new to the franchise.
The film will be led by Ryan Gosling in an as-yet-unknown role, though he is said to be playing a renowned pilot and a war hero.
He is joined by Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams.
As their characters have not yet been named, it is expected that they will all be playing new roles in the Star Wars universe.
Even its placement in the timeline, set five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, suggests it will feature an all-new cast, as it marks the furthest point the franchise has reached in the timeline.
Since there are no existing stories from that period, it is unlikely that these actors are portraying established characters.
Most characters from the sequel era come from the live-action sequel films, and none of these stars have appeared in those movies, further supporting that Starfighter will introduce an entirely new cast to the franchise.
Matt Smith Teases Star Wars: Starfighter Character
While Matt Smith's official character in Star Wars: Starfighter has not yet been revealed, he is said to play the film’s main villain alongside Mia Goth, with the two reportedly hunting down Ryan Gosling and Flynn Gray’s characters.
But instead of confirming his role while promoting the upcoming House of the Dragon Season 3, where he plays Daemon Targaryen, he only dropped hints during an interview with the Today Show.
“Maybe, am I?” he said when asked if he would be playing a villainous role. Instead, he spoke about the film in general terms.
“I think the film is going to be absolutely blinding. I think it’s going to be brilliant, truly. I was so, so excited and thrilled to be on it,” he teased. “Mia Goth, fantastic. Ryan [Gosling] is just a great leader. Shawn [Levy] is a real top, top director. It was brilliant.”
Principal photography for the movie was already completed in late 2025, while the post-production process is still ongoing.
However, Smith revealed he might get a chance to see a rough cut of the film soon.
“I might even go and watch it today. Can you believe that?” he continued. “There’s like a rough cut, you know, kind of rough, rough.”
Unfortunately, fans are not as lucky as Smith, as they will only get to see the full Starfighter when it hits theaters on May 28, 2027.
Keep it locked on Epicstream, your go-to source for film, TV, and celebrity news!