Actor Ryan Gosling is one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. Although he is best known for romantic comedies like “La La Land” and “The Notebook,” he has also revealed more dramatic acting talents in “Blade Runner 2049” and “Drive.” While fans eagerly await his appearance in “Project Hail Mary,” scheduled to hit theaters on March 20, 2026, “Star Wars” fans are excited to see him appear in a galaxy far, far away in “Star Wars: Starfighter,” scheduled for release in May 2027.
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Ryan Gosling reveals why he decided to join the ‘Star Wars’ franchise
Although the A-list actor has so far stayed out of many franchise films, he will finally appear in a galaxy far, far away when “Star Wars: Starfighter” hits theaters next May. While promoting his upcoming sci-fi film “Project Hail Mary,” io9 asked him what convinced him to join a galaxy far, far away.
In his response, Gosling credited the director Shawn Levywhich is still fresh off the success of 2024’s “Deadpool & Wolverine.”
“It was Shawn’s enthusiasm and his vision and the script, and I just avoided those things because they never felt right to me,” Gosling said. “And I’m glad I did it because I feel like, [similar to] a book like this, [it was] it’s worth the wait. And it’s like a once in a lifetime opportunity.
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‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ will have a lightsaber duel taken down by Tom Cruise
Not much is known about the film currently, except for its star-studded cast which includes Mia Goth, Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, and Amy Adams. It seems there was some serious star power behind the scenes too, as Levy told the New York Times in January 2026 Tom Cruise helped film a scene “involving a lightsaber duel in the water.”
“Last week, Steven Spielberg was there. And now Tom Cruise is brandishing a camera, ruining his really nice shoes. Now when you see the movie, you’ll know that part of it was shot by Tom. I mean, how cool is that?” » gushes Lévy.
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Ryan Gosling’s character could be involved in a father-son dynamic
Promotional images for the film show Ryan Gosling on set with Flynn Gray, who has appeared on TV shows like “Going Dutch” and “Wednesday.” In the interview, Levy explained that his father left the family when he was just three years old and did not find him again until he was thirteen.
“I never connected with it before… But I could never understand why I kept coming back to these stories of a 13-year-old boy being saved by a man. There was something defining about that moment for me. And with ‘Star Wars,’ I’m doing it again,” Levy revealed.
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“My dad called me yesterday and asked how I was doing. “Is work stressful? Is it difficult?” he said. “I’m like, ‘Yeah, this movie is more stressful and challenging than anything I’ve ever done.’ But also, my 10-year-old self is on set with me every day. This is how I make films.
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Shawn Levy compares ‘Starfighter’ to ‘Stranger Things’
The Hollywood Reporter caught up with Shawn Levy in January 2026 to talk about the final season of “Stranger Things,” as he produced and directed a few episodes of the final season of the hit Netflix series.
“If I can balance the epic and the intimate like the Duffers do with Stranger ThingsI will make a film and an original and new Star Wars an adventure that can be truly satisfying for fans and audiences,” Levy said at the time.
“If I learned anything about Stranger things, is that you can be intimidated by the magnitude of the expectations when it comes to candor. But you will lose your way if that is your goal. I learned the need to stay grounded in character, themes and relationships on screen,” he continued.
“Yes, there is spectacle and scale, just like Stranger Things. And of course, Star Wars And Starfighter “It has spectacle, scale and adventure on a level that I have never achieved in my entire career,” he added. “But like Stranger things, it is also very anchored in a story on a human scale.
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Production of “Star Wars: Starfighter” ends in December 2025
In December 2025, Levy took to Instagram to reveal that he had finished filming. “It’s over!” he wrote. “I headed into post-production on #Starfighter like…”
While it remains to be seen whether Ryan Gosling will be needed for further filming, this isn’t the only film fans of the “Star Wars” movie have to look forward to.
“The Mandalorian & Grogu,” the first “Star Wars” film to hit theaters since 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker,” will hit theaters on May 22, 2026.
