Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for The Mandalorian & Grogu
<em>Star Wars</em> has officially returned to theaters after a seven-year hiatus, thanks to <em>The Mandalorian & Grogu</em>. Starring Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and his adopted son Grogu, the movie is a very fun adventure featuring Imperial warlords, Hutt gangsters and gladiators, monsters of all kinds, and the New Republic pilots patrolling the Outer Rim. To that end, one key element from this year’s new Star Wars movie has me incredibly hyped for next year’s adventure in the galaxy far, far away.
Just under a full year away, <em>Star Wars: Starfighter</em> is directed by Shawn Levy and stars Ryan Gosling as the movie’s key lead. Other notable actors in the cast include Flynn Gray, Amy Adams, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Matt Smith, and Daniel Ings. While not much has been revealed so far, it’s been confirmed that the new movie will be set five years after The Rise of Skywalker, making Starfighter the furthest movie on the official Star Wars timeline yet.
Keeping that in mind, a key sequence in The Mandalorian & Grogu has been very excited for the next Star Wars movie from Lucasfilm.
The Mandalorian & Grogu Has Some Solid New Republic Squadron Action
One of my favorite moments in The Mandalorian & Grogu is early on in the first act, during the opening credits sequence.
Heavily inspired by Top Gun, the opening credits see the multiple X-Wings and Y-Wings that make up Adelphi Squadron returning to base at sunrise. With New Republic starfighters landing with crews and pilots prepping for ongoing patrols of the Outer Rim, the entire sequence is incredibly cool, especially as Ludwig Göransson’s Mandalorian theme plays on the big screen for the first time.
While the opening sequence is by far one of my favorite scenes in the entire movie, it’s also worth noting that the film doubles down with Adelphi Squadron in the final act as well.
When Din Djarin, Grogu, and Rotta the Hutt find themselves in serious trouble on Nal Hutta, Adelphi Squadron arrives to back them up. Led by Sigourney Weaver’s Colonel Ward, the New Republic Rangers launch a coordinated strike against the Hutt Syndicate’s stronghold, resulting in a very exciting dogfight with the Hutt’s ships and ground defenses.
While it’s a relatively small portion of The Mandalorian & Grogu, it still manages to get me even more excited about all the starship action we’ll hopefully be getting in Levy and Gosling’s Starfighter next year.
Will Star Wars: Starfighter Finally Scratch The Rogue Squadron Itch?
When Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron was officially announced in 2020, with the promise of a movie centered on pilots and their ships, excitement was very high. However, the movie has remained in a development limbo for over half a decade, leaving many doubtful if the movie will ever happen at all. As such, the hope now lies with Starfighter next year.
Again, very little is currently known about Shawn Levy’s upcoming film, though the title alone suggests that starfighters will naturally play a major role in the story.
With shows and movies like The Mandalorian & Grogu providing some excellent squadron sequences, one can only imagine what a whole movie focused on one or more starfighters might look like. Fans should absolutely be expecting some major aerial action at a scale and level the likes of which we’ve never seen before on the big screen. After all, that’s what happens when you title your film Starfighter…
Hopefully, the movie will feature all kinds of epic dogfights, missions, high speeds, and more of the ingredients that make Star Wars space battles so dang fun to watch. With any luck, The Mandalorian & Grogu simply gave audiences just a taste of what’s in store with Starfighter when it releases next year from Lucasfilm.
The Mandalorian & Grogu is now playing in theaters from Lucasfilm. Star Wars: Starfighter releases May 28th, 2027.
