Disney has revealed first footage of "Star Wars: Starfighter," a new film focusing on marginalized characters from the fringes of the galaxy.
The project represents a thematic shift for the franchise by centering on working-class protagonists rather than the traditional galactic nobility or high-ranking military figures.
Director Shawn Levy presented the footage this month at Disney’s D23 Entertainment Showcase at the Anaheim Convention Center in California [2]. The story takes place approximately five years [1] after the events of the previous Star Wars film [1].
Ryan Gosling stars as pilot Kade Auberon, whom Gosling described as a guy from the wrong side of the galaxy [3]. The film also features newcomer Flynn Gray. According to Levy, the movie will follow "marginalized outsiders" from "the wrong side of the galaxy" [1].
Levy said the production is inspired by the spirit of "The Outsiders," the classic novel and film. He said the team is focusing on working-class heroes in a lawless galaxy [2]. While some reports suggest the film focuses on the relationship between two men, others emphasize the broader class struggle between different social groups [4, 5].
This approach aims to highlight the experiences of those living in lawless sectors of the galaxy. Levy said the goal is to showcase characters who exist outside the established power structures of the Star Wars universe [1, 2].
“"Star Wars: Starfighter will follow 'marginalized outsiders' from 'the wrong side of the galaxy.'"”
By drawing inspiration from 'The Outsiders,' Lucasfilm is pivoting toward a socio-economic narrative. Moving the focus away from the Jedi and Sith dynastic struggles toward a class-based conflict suggests an attempt to broaden the franchise's emotional resonance and explore the systemic inequality within its fictional universe.
