Disney came to D23 Expo with nearly every corner of its empire in tow, unveiling new looks, release dates, casting news, and a few genuine surprises across Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm, and Disney Animation. Among the night’s biggest reveals was the first-look teaser trailer/sizzle footage for “Star Wars: Starfighter,” with Ryan Gosling leading Shawn Levy’s standalone galactic adventure as Kade Auberon, a cynical rogue whose mysterious past sends him hurtling toward a dangerous new destiny.
The trailer opens on a boy (Flynn Gray) in a hangar, lifting the tarp on a long-mothballed starship. Who this boy is was not revealed in the trailer or in Disney’s press releases, but he may be Auberon’s son, given that both characters seem to live in this place. Auberon himself appears, scolding the boy for being nosy in the hangar, but when asked what the ship is, he confirms that it is a decommissioned G-17 Imperial Reaper: “the fastest starfighter ever built.”
When the boy tells Auberon he’s never heard of the ship, Auberon says “there’s a reason for that,” at which point we are treated to about 30 seconds of sizzle reel footage teasing Starfighter: a speeder skims a lake; we see Auberon’s distinctive, “Drive“-esque leather jacket from behind, adorned with an upside-down Rebel Alliance emblem; and Auberon working on then apparently strapping in to take flight in the G-17. Then, an “Avatar“-like environment where a vehicle akin to a hangglider rides above the waves; ignition firing on what again looks like the G-17; and a reveal of what is likely the movie’s title card, notably using the more retro “Star Wars” typeface that can be found on the original 1977 film’s posters, rather than the more widely known “Star Wars” logo which opens each of the numbered films.
This final touch is a punctuation point on what “Starfighter” seems determined to deliver: a Star Wars story outside of the traditional mold. This teaser makes the film look like an exhilarating ride that plays more like a family-friendly “Drive” rather than indulging in fan service that further shrinks the universe. This comparison is buoyed by the presence of Gray’s character, who may be Auberon’s son, but (if you believe the rumors) seems more likely to be a child Auberon has been charged with protecting, given the synopsis released by Disney. It’s been speculated that Auberon has been tasked with a mission to bring the child to Rey (Daisy Ridley), serving as the connective tissue that will tee up Simon Kinberg‘s potential Episode X. Again, this is purely speculation, and given Dave Filoni taking control of Lucasfilm from Kathleen Kennedy, many of the studio’s previously announced projects are still in limbo.
However, what is abundantly clear is that in teaming up with “F1” and “Top Gun: Maverick” cinematographer Claudio Miranda, Shawn Levy has received a massive visual upgrade when compared to his standard blockbuster fare. Miranda lenses the film with the same eye for visceral thrills at velocity that made his work with Joseph Kosinski so thrilling, giving the world of “Star Wars” a style and vision we’ve never seen before while still firmly feeling like the galaxy far, far, away we know and love. Gosling, most of all, brings his usual charisma and – as of late- a harder edge to Kane Auberon, and with just a couple of lines of dialogue already creates a cool, compelling, and captivating lead for a “Star Wars” story.
Audiences won’t have to wait too long, as Disney has set the theatrical release date for “Star Wars: Starfighter” on May 28, 2027. The rest of the cast of the latest theatrical “Star Wars” adventure is Matt Smith (“House of the Dragon”), Mia Goth (“The Odyssey”), Aaron Pierre (“Rebel Ridge,” “Lanterns”), Simon Bird (“The Inbetweeners”), Jamael Westman (“Hedda”), Daniel Ings (“The Gentlement,” “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”), and Amy Adams (“Arrival”).
While the “Starfighter” trailer was arguably the highlight of D23 this year, there were plenty of other exciting announcements and teases, many of which we’ve covered in greater detail independently. We were treated to an appearance from “Ice Age: Boiling Point“‘s Denis Leary and Queen Latifah teasing a dino-sized Scrat. Kathryn Hahn discussed the upcoming live-action “Tangled,” emphasizing on-location shooting in Spain and the use of historic architecture and practical sets.
Jon Favreau revealed exclusive footage for “Oswald,” his upcoming miniseries adaptation of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, showcasing its integration of live-action with stunning 2D hand-drawn animation. “Oswald,” a decade-in-the-making passion project for Favreau, also stars Hahn alongside Steve Martin, and Favreau’s excitement was palpable as he announced the miniseries. The footage follows the mischievous Oswald as he enters an animation office, taking a peek behind the curtain of the artistry that built the House of Mouse. On top of how stunningly animated Oswald himself is, it showcased some of the gorgeous 2D animation we can expect from the miniseries as the Lucky Rabbit peers into a Zoetrope observing an animated clown that frightens him. There are easter eggs galore for Disney fans, as the footage delivers on Favreau’s promise to honor Walt Disney’s original creation and the legacy of animation he inspired.
Pete Docter unveiled some new details and concept art for Pixar’s “Incredibles 3,” which is slated for release in 2028, and “Coco 2,” which hits theatres the following year. This was followed by the announcement of a new, original Pixar film, “Ghost Market,” which is also set to release in 2028, and all of which we’ve covered in a separate article.
Marvel Studios’ portion of the event kicked off with a first look at the trailer and poster for “VisionQuest,” courtesy of Kevin Feige and Paul Bettany, then a much-anticipated new trailer for “Avengers: Doomsday,” which premiered at San Diego Comic-Con last month. This was capped off with an electrifying cast reveal of the new “X-Men,” including Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Maya Boyd as Storm, Christopher Abbott as Charles Xavier, and Adam Driver as Mister Sinister. Also, the announcement that the mutant reboot is coming to cinemas on May 5, 2028.
While many of these announcements were fun and pointed towards exciting projects on the horizon in 2028 and 2029, next year’s “Starfighter” is positioned to be one of the most important theatrical releases on the calendar. Not only does the fate of “Star Wars” on the big screen rest on its shoulders, but it will also provide some insight into the quality of Gosling and Levy’s collaborations as they embark on Marvel’s “Ghost Rider” film. Disney has yet to release the “Starfighter” teaser publicly, but given the quality of the footage and how polished the effects look, it’s sure to premiere very soon. Regardless, “Star Wars: Starfighter” promises a refreshing adventure within a corner of the galaxy we haven’t seen much of before, thanks to Shawn Levy’s vision and Ryan Gosling’s endless ability to compel audiences.
Stay tuned for more D23 coverage as it rolls in.
