A-lister signs on for new ‘Star Wars’ film after Mikey Madison passes on project
“Star Wars” has its new leading man.
Ryan Gosling is going to a galaxy far, far away.
The actor has joined “Deadpool & Wolverine” director Shawn Levy for the highly anticipated “Star Wars: Starfighter.”
The news was announced on Friday in Japan at the “Star Wars” Celebration 2025, in which Gosling, 44, surprised the crowd by taking center stage.
The actor expressed his excitement about being a part of the legendary flick, which promised not to be a prequel or sequel but a standalone.
“This is the perfect place to start this journey for us, because it’s such an incredible reminder of why we’re going to make this movie and who we’re going to make this movie for,” Gosling said on the stage.
“This is a standalone. It’s not a prequel, not a sequel. It’s a new adventure. It’s set in a period of time that we haven’t seen explored yet.”
The actor shared why he was drawn to the Levy-directed film, teasing that the “script is just so good. It has such a great story with great and original characters.”
“Star Wars: Starfighter” has a May 28, 2027 release date — and don’t expect it to be like anything from the franchise’s universe’s before.
It is set approximately five years after what takes place in 2019’s “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker.”
It will feature brand-new characters in a period of time that hasn’t been covered in the extended “Star Wars” world before, according to Entertainment Weekly.
While Gosling signed on to star in “Starfighter,” another big name passed.
Oscar-winning actress Mikey Madison was allegedly offered a role in the film and declined, with the “Anora” star turning down the part, reported Variety on Thursday, April 17.
Insiders shared that Madison, 26, had “conversations” with Levy about joining the cast, but those talks ended because the actress decided not to accept his offer.
Production on “Star Wars: Starfighter” begins this fall.
It’s another huge announcement for Disney, which comes just weeks after the Mouse House announced the star-studded cast for “Avengers: Doomsday.”
While Disney previously confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. would return to the franchise as the villain Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom after playing the late Tony Stark/Iron Man, it recently rolled out several huge names who will join him on-screen.
Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Florence Pugh, Tom Hiddleston, Patrick Stewart, Pedro Pascal, Rebecca Romijn and Channing Tatum were just some of the actors announced.
“Avengers: Doomsday” is set for release on May 1, 2026, just days before Disney’s “Avengers: Secret Wars” hits theaters on May 7, 2027.
