- Primary Subject: Ryan Gosling joining Star Wars: Starfighter
- Key Update: Ryan Gosling revealed he joined the film due to director Shawn Levy's enthusiasm, his vision for the project, and a script that felt like a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: March 4, 2026
- Quick Answer: Ryan Gosling signed on for Star Wars: Starfighter because of director Shawn Levy's passion and a unique script that finally felt right for the actor.
Ryan Gosling has officially broken his long-standing "no franchise" rule to join the Star Wars galaxy. During the press tour for his 2026 film, Project Hail Mary, the actor shared why he finally felt ready to board a major studio IP.
What Led Ryan Gosling to Finally Sign Up for the Star Wars Franchise
Gosling had already made a name for himself from Blade Runner 2049, Barbie, and the upcoming Project Hail Mary. Still, it wouldn't hurt to add another to the list. This time, he stars in a major role in the galaxy far, far away franchise.
"It was Shawn [Levy]'s enthusiasm and his vision and the script," Gosling recently shared on io9, "And I just avoided these things because they never felt right. And I'm glad I did because I feel like, [similar to] a book like this, [it was] worth waiting for. And it is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
While the three-time Oscar nominee has also been potentially linked to the MCU's Ghost Rider, Star Wars may have become more appealing to add to his resume as an actor.
Gosling previously praised the installment as "such a great story with great and original characters" that shows "so much heart and adventure", adding that "There is not a more perfect filmmaker for this particular story than Shawn."
Starfighter Writer Rules Out Legacy Characters in the Upcoming Film
Star Wars: Starfighter writer Jonathan Tropper previously confirmed on ScreenRant that their film is set to "tell a completely new story" and that they were not "bound by any structures of the past movies." Tropper also reiterated that the Gosling-led feature will not feature any "legacy characters."
"Obviously, lightsabers are a part of that universe and that part of that Galaxy," Tropper said, "I'm so careful not to reveal anything, but essentially, I think it's known that we have no legacy characters. You're not going to see any of the characters you've seen in the other movies."
He continued, "So there are certain things that are still hallmarks of Star Wars that is good to have in there. But more than that, I can't say."
Lucasfilm also confirmed that Star Wars: Starfighter will be set after the events of The Rise of Skywalker on the franchise timeline, with Levy noting that this will be an "all-new non-sequel, non-prequel adventure" with "new characters, new timeline" that wants to give fans "something fresh, something new."
Alongside Gosling, Starfighter also stars Flynn Gray (Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2), Matt Smith (House of the Dragon), Mia Goth (Infinity Pool/Frankenstein), Aaron Pierre (Lanterns), Simon Bird (The Inbetweeners), Jamael Westman (Hedda), Daniel Ings (Lovesick), and Amy Adams (Man of Steel).
Star Wars: Starfighter is currently slated to premiere on May 28, 2027. Stay tuned.
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