The cameras have officially stopped rolling on one of the most anticipated Star Wars projects in recent years. Director Shawn Levy took to Instagram this week to announce that Star Wars: Starfighter has wrapped principal photography and is now moving into post-production. The news comes just months after filming kicked off back in August, marking a surprisingly swift production timeline for a modern Star Wars movie.
Levy shared a behind-the-scenes photo of himself sprinting through what appears to be the interior of a massive starship set, captioning it with “That’s a wrap! Headed into #Starfighter post-production like…” The energy in that simple post says everything—this is a filmmaker who’s clearly pumped about what he’s created.
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What we know about Starfighter
Here’s where things get interesting for longtime fans. Starfighter isn’t your typical Star Wars sequel or prequel. Levy has been crystal clear that this is a completely standalone story featuring brand-new characters in an unexplored timeline. The film takes place roughly five years after The Rise of Skywalker, but don’t expect direct connections to the Skywalker saga.
Ryan Gosling leads the cast, joined by Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre, and others. While plot details remain locked down tighter than the Death Star plans, Levy has described the film’s tone as a return to the adventurous spirit of A New Hope, big-hearted, playful, with genuine moments of levity mixed into the action.
The director even revealed during production that he completely reworked the third act after realizing the original version wasn’t cutting it. That kind of creative flexibility during filming is rare, and it suggests Lucasfilm is giving Levy real freedom to make something special.
A smart production timeline
What’s particularly encouraging is the breathing room Lucasfilm has given this production. With a May 28, 2027 release date, Levy now has nearly a year and a half for post-production, visual effects, and potential reshoots if needed. It’s a stark contrast to some past Star Wars projects that felt rushed to meet deadlines, and it shows the studio is taking a more measured approach to bringing new stories to the big screen.
This is the Star Wars movie that’ll arrive after The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters in 2026, and if Levy’s enthusiasm is any indication, fans might be in for something genuinely fresh while still feeling unmistakably Star Wars.
What do you think about Starfighter’s approach? Drop your theories and join the conversation over on Geek Realm Hub’s Facebook page, we’re geeking out about this daily!