The next Star Wars movie currently in production is titled **Star Wars: Starfighter**, directed by Shawn Levy, who is known for directing films like *Deadpool* and *Wolverine*. This movie stars Ryan Gosling in the lead role and is scheduled for release on May 28, 2027[1][2].
Shawn Levy’s involvement was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration 2025, and filming began in August 2025 in the UK. The story is set approximately five to six years after the events of *Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker*, making it the furthest forward live-action Star Wars story in the timeline so far[1][2]. Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, has described the film as a standalone story with mostly new characters, although some characters from the sequel saga might appear. The film is set in the era following the original nine-episode saga, distinct from the timeline of *The Mandalorian* and *Grogu*, which is set in a different era of the New Republic[1].
The cast includes notable actors such as Mia Goth, who will play the villain, and Matt Smith, who is reportedly cast as the saga’s “next great villain.” Other cast members include Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams[1]. Levy has hinted that his experience directing *Stranger Things* and *Deadpool* prepared him for this Star Wars project, though he remains tight-lipped about plot details[5].
In addition to *Starfighter*, there is another Star Wars movie in development directed by Taika Waititi, known for *Thor: Ragnarok* and *Jojo Rabbit*. Waititi is co-writing his Star Wars film with Krysty Wilson-Cairns. This project has been in development for some time and aims to capture a joyful and fresh tone, but it has not yet been scheduled for release[3].
Meanwhile, Lucasfilm has also hired Simon Kinberg to develop a new Star Wars trilogy separate from the Skywalker saga. Kinberg, known for *X-Men: Dark Phoenix* and *The Martian*, is working on a story with new characters and a new narrative direction, though details remain scarce[4].
To summarize the current directing landscape for upcoming Star Wars movies:
– **Shawn Levy** is directing *Star Wars: Starfighter*, releasing in May 2027, starring Ryan Gosling, set five years after *The Rise of Skywalker* with mostly new characters[1][2][5].
– **Taika Waititi** is directing and co-writing another Star Wars film, still in development, aiming for a unique and joyful tone[3].
– **Simon Kinberg** is developing a new Star Wars trilogy as writer and producer, focusing on new stories beyond the Skywalker saga[4].
Thus, the immediate next Star Wars movie to hit theaters will be *Star Wars: Starfighter* directed by Shawn Levy. Other projects by Waititi and Kinberg are in various stages of development but have not yet been finalized for release.
