Shawn Levy's "Star Wars: Starfighter" wrapped shooting last December, well ahead of its May 28, 2027 release. Now we're getting a look at what it's costing Disney — let’s hope this one is a success.
A Forbes report (via Dark Horizons) dug into the film's U.K. tax filings, and the numbers are hefty. The production, shot primarily at Pinewood Studios with location work in Sardinia, had racked up $226.5M in costs through early 2026. A $51.5 million U.K. tax credit brings the net figure down to roughly $175M so far.
And that's before the expensive part. The figure doesn't include the months of visual effects, post-production and distribution costs still to come. According to the report, ‘Starfighter’ is already costing more at this stage than "The Force Awakens" did at the same point, is on par with "The Last Jedi," and is coming in under "The Rise of Skywalker." For context, U.K. filings later put the final cost of "Rise of Skywalker" at $593M.
Levy recently admitted that Starfighter's original third-act plan fell apart and he was "forced" by Disney to come up with a new ending. I questioned why Levy would publicly admit this mid-production, especially using the word "forced," since it invited speculative think pieces about trouble on the film.
Ryan Gosling stars as a pilot named Kade Auberon, alongside Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings and Eva Mendes. Oscar-winning cinematographer Claudio Miranda ("Top Gun: Maverick," "Oblivion") shot the film, which is set five years after "The Rise of Skywalker," a stretch of the timeline Star Wars has never explored.
Levy and Gosling are an interesting pairing for a franchise that badly needs a win on the big screen. ‘Starfighter’ will be the first Star Wars movie in theaters since 2019 not called "The Mandalorian & Grogu," and at this price, Disney will need to turn it into a blockbuster hit.
Levy — coming off “Deadpool & Wolverine” —is the stalwart filmmaker behind “Big Fat Liar,” “Just Married,” “Cheaper by the Dozen,” “The Internship,” “Real Steal,” the “Pink Panther” reboot, “Free Guy” and the “Night at the Museum” trilogy. Not a single good movie out of the bunch.
“Star Wars: Starfighter” hits theaters worldwide on May 28, 2027.
Charli’s role is under wraps, but she's in good company, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Mads Mikkelsen, Patricia Clarkson and Jared Harris leading the cast.