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On Memorial Day weekend in 1977, a little movie debuted that had a big impact: Star Wars. Inspired by Flash Gordon, Akira Kurosawa films, and war movies, it created a modern media franchise that's grown beyond movies into television, comics, prose novels, bedsheets, theme park rides, and more. But it all began as its own thing: a new adventure, featuring all-new characters, set in a period that had never been explored on screen.

Now, Lucasfilm has quietly scheduled a new Star Wars movie to be released on the 50th anniversary of the original's opening weekend. The movie announcement is big mind you, but that it's on the anniversary is something Lucasfilm is seemingly avoiding (for now). 

Star Wars: Starfighter, from director Shawn Levy and actor Ryan Gosling, is being trumpeted as the first Star Wars movie since the original that's not a sequel or a prequel, but its own thing.

"[Star Wars: Starfighter] is a new adventure. It's new characters, and takes place in a new period of time after the Battle of Exegol and after Episode 9," says Levy during an interview on Friday at Star Wars Celebration 2025. "There are so many opportunities to tell a Star Wars story that has all the heart and action and fun, but to do it in ways that are new and original."

In its press release, Lucasfilm makes sure to emphasize the newness, saying Star Wars: Starfighter is "an entirely new adventure featuring all-new characters set in a period of time that has not been explored on screen yet."

In the announcement of the Starfighter film, Ryan Gosling wore a hat emblazoned with the Han Solo quote "Never tell me the odds," and when asked about it during an interview he and Levy said that idea to not be discouraged by a big thing looming is something they're carrying into this film.

Star Wars: Starfighter is scheduled to open in theaters on May 28, 2027.

Get to know, understand, and love the Star Wars franchise more with our Star Wars watch order, guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies & TV shows, and all the Star Wars movies and Star Wars TV shows ranked.