The Future of Star Wars: What Lies Ahead has increasingly felt like a massive, even concerning question mark in recent years, but these new announcements from Star Wars Celebration 2025 have significantly boosted my confidence in the franchise’s direction. Over the past few years, several upcoming Star Wars films have been announced, although many of them came with limited details at best. Until Star Wars Celebration 2025, in fact, The Mandalorian and Grogu was the only upcoming Star Wars movie with a confirmed release date, leaving fans anxious for more information.

Other films, like Rey’s upcoming Star Wars project, rumored to be titled Star Wars: New Jedi Order, and James Mangold’s film, reportedly titled Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, had a few story details or at least heavily rumored elements. However, others, such as Taika Waititi’s Star Wars film, lacked any substantial information. This uncertainty surrounding these projects, combined with the franchise’s challenges with backlash and controversy lately, led many to question the future of Star Wars. Yet, the new announcements from Star Wars Celebration 2025 demonstrate that the future of Star Wars is back on track.

Exciting News: Star Wars Returns to One Movie Per Year with Starfighter Announcement

Major Update on Shawn Levy’s Star Wars Movie

One of the most significant announcements emerging from Star Wars Celebration 2025 is that Shawn Levy’s Star Wars film, officially titled Star Wars: Starfighter, is set to be the next release following The Mandalorian and Grogu. This highly anticipated film will star Ryan Gosling in the role of a currently unnamed new Star Wars character. The storyline is set a few years after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker within the Star Wars timeline, but it is important to note that it will be a standalone film, not directly connected to the Skywalker Saga.

This announcement carries significant weight for various reasons, ranging from the exciting confirmation of Gosling’s involvement in the Star Wars universe to the intriguing period within the Star Wars timeline that the movie will explore. Among the most critical updates is the confirmation that Starfighter is scheduled to be released on May 28th, 2027, which means its release will occur nearly one year to the day after The Mandalorian and Grogu. This indicates that Star Wars is indeed returning to a schedule of releasing one movie each year, a fantastic prospect for fans.

Kathleen Kennedy Confirms Exciting Upcoming Star Wars Movies

Additional Star Wars Movies Are Under Development

Alongside the exciting news about Starfighter, Star Wars Celebration 2025’s Mandalorian and Grogu panel offered fresh insights into the future of Star Wars films. Although a trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu has yet to be released, new footage was showcased, featuring clips of Sigourney Weaver’s character in Star Wars, along with glimpses of Grogu, Din Djarin, and even the Razor Crest. However, The Mandalorian and Grogu is far from the only upcoming Star Wars film in development.

Rather, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm Dave Filoni confirmed that Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars trilogy, Taika Waititi’s Star Wars film, James Mangold’s project, and Rey’s upcoming Star Wars movie are all actively being developed. This clarity surrounding these previously uncertain films suggests that the Star Wars franchise is back on track with a definitive plan moving forward. Additionally, it’s noteworthy that Filoni confirmed progress on Ahsoka season 2 during this panel, further solidifying the Star Wars universe’s expanded narrative.

Renewed Confidence in the Direction of Star Wars Franchise

The Future of Star Wars Has Been Uncertain for Too Long

While I have certainly been excited for The Mandalorian and Grogu and continue to regard it as one of the most thrilling Star Wars projects on the horizon, it is undeniably a relief to discover that there is so much more in the pipeline for the franchise beyond just this one film. Although numerous titles have been announced in recent years, many have felt somewhat uncertain. Some projects, like Waititi’s Star Wars film, even seemed like they might never materialize. However, these recent updates provide a contrasting perspective, suggesting a revitalized focus and intent.

It is also encouraging to see that Star Wars has truly established a clear path forward for the franchise. It is widely known that Star Wars has faced challenges in finding its direction recently, especially now that the Skywalker Saga has concluded. Issues had surfaced even before the end of that saga, as many had voiced concerns regarding the sequel trilogy. While I firmly believe that many of Star Wars’ best television series have emerged during this period, it is evident that the future direction of Star Wars was unclear.

With these latest announcements—particularly the exciting news about Starfighter—my concerns have been greatly alleviated. It is apparent that Lucasfilm is being very purposeful about the upcoming films in the franchise, and while it may have taken some time, Star Wars now has a clear trajectory ahead. Perhaps most thrilling of all, Star Wars Celebration 2025 is just beginning, and already, <em>Star Wars</em> has demonstrated that there is a wealth of content on the horizon for the franchise.