Lucasfilm Reveals Ryan Gosling’s Role in Star Wars: Starfighter

Lucasfilm debuted the first footage from its upcoming movie Star Wars: Starfighter exclusively for attendees at the D23 presentation, revealing details about Ryan Gosling’s lead role.

Gosling portrays Cade Oberon, a cynical adventurer from the far reaches of the galaxy whose path intersects with the fastest starfighter ever built. The actor took the stage alongside director Shawn Levy, initially wearing a Mickey Mouse Club jacket from his early career before changing into Cade’s leather jacket, which featured a mysterious emblem on the back.

Attendees then watched an exclusive preview clip. The scene opens with a young character played by Flynn Gray pulling a tarp off a weathered vessel and running his hand along the hull. Cade tells the boy to keep his hands off, explaining that the ship is a decommissioned Imperial starfighter that was once the fastest craft in the galaxy.

The teaser then transitioned into a montage of quick sequences. An unidentified figure races a speeder across a swamp, Cade repairs the ship while holding a massive tool or weapon, and characters navigate choppy waters aboard a small boat. Other shots feature a droid piloting a starship and a man leaping across a chasm inside an industrial complex. In the closing moments, Cade takes the controls of the starfighter and accelerates to blistering speeds, leaving behind distinct vapor trails.

The story of Starfighter takes place roughly five years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX. Alongside Gosling, the cast includes Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, and Amy Adams. The film is directed by Shawn Levy, who previously helmed Deadpool & Wolverine.

Star Wars: Starfighter is scheduled to premiere on May 28, 2027.