The next Star Wars film just hit a major milestone, but did it come at a cost?Credit: LucasfilmLucasfilm is charting a noticeably different course for Star Wars, and the mandate is coming from the very top. Studio president Kathleen Kennedy has been clear that the franchise is no longer centered on the Skywalker family, instead prioritizing unexplored eras, original characters, and stories that expand the galaxy in unexpected ways. In Kennedy’s view, the next chapter of Star Wars is less about continuing familiar bloodlines and more about venturing into territory audiences haven’t seen before.That philosophy is already shaping the franchise’s theatrical comeback. The Mandalorian and Grogu, set for release in 2026, will bring Star Wars back to cinemas after a lengthy absence. But the bigger statement arrived during Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Tokyo, where Kennedy appeared alongside Dave Filoni, Shawn Levy, and Ryan Gosling to formally unveil the next feature film: Star Wars: Starfighter, dated for May 28, 2027.Credit: LucasfilmFrom the outset, Starfighter has been positioned as something distinct. Lucasfilm stressed that the project is not connected to the sequel trilogy or the Skywalker saga in any direct way. Instead, it’s framed as a standalone story unfolding in a previously unseen period of Star Wars history.Levy’s approach reflects that mandate. The film is being built without narrative obligations to earlier installments, freeing it from the need to reference legacy characters or resolve long-running plot threads. The goal, according to the studio, is a story that can stand on its own while still feeling unmistakably Star Wars.The casting choices reinforce that push into new ground. Gosling leads an ensemble that includes Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and newcomer Flynn Gray. Mia Goth and Matt Smith are set to portray antagonists, signaling a more ominous tone, while Amy Adams’ involvement has prompted early speculation about her role. Some fans have already begun theorizing that her character could be tied to the Force, or possibly a reimagined take on Jedi lore.Credit: LucasfilmThose theories have only grown louder as reports circulated suggesting Starfighter might quietly plant seeds for future films. Among the more persistent rumors is the idea that the story introduces a Force-sensitive child protected by his mother, potentially Adams’ character, who could later factor into broader Star Wars storytelling.At one point, that speculation extended to a possible connection with Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker and the in-development New Jedi Order project. Lucasfilm has never confirmed such plans, but the idea fueled considerable discussion within the fan community.Now, new comments from Levy suggest that any such crossover may no longer be part of the picture. Speaking on On Film… With Kevin McCarthy, the director revealed that Starfighter’s third act has undergone a substantial rewrite.Credit: Lucasfilm“We had a whole different idea for something in the third act, and then things didn’t align, and I was forced to come up with a new idea. And I’m literally right now shooting that section of the movie,” Levy said. “Everyday I’m grateful that the way I was supposed to do it didn’t work out, because the new idea that it forced me to explore is so much better than the original idea would have been.”Levy maintained that the film remains designed as a complete, self-contained story. He has repeatedly pointed to the creative latitude Kennedy offered as the reason he signed on, describing the opportunity as a lifelong aspiration realized. For Levy, the appeal lies in making a Star Wars movie that reflects his own voice while still honoring the spirit of the franchise.Rather than adhering to a predefined formula, Levy said he was encouraged to start from scratch. That meant defining a new era, setting a distinct tone, and crafting a film with its own identity, separate from what came before.Credit: Universal PicturesA significant milestone has been reached in the development of Star Wars: Starfighter, as Shawn Levy confirmed on Instagram that filming has wrapped. This means that the Ryan Gosling-led Star Wars movie will enter post-production to prepare it for its May 2027 release.If Starfighter‘s standalone approach is successful, then it could signal a meaningful shift for Star Wars on the big screen. With original characters, an unfamiliar timeline, and no reliance on established arcs, Starfighter stands as one of Lucasfilm’s most decisive breaks from tradition to date.Whether it ultimately launches a new cinematic direction or remains a one-off experiment, the message from Lucasfilm is clear: the future of Star Wars is focused on exploration.Credit: LucasfilmAnd for a franchise built on the unknown reaches of space, that sense of uncertainty may be exactly what it needs right now.How do you feel about Star Wars: Starfighter? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!The post ‘Star Wars’ Post-Sequel Era Gets Update After Director Forced To Scrap Original Movie appeared first on Inside the Magic.