Disney Hopeful for ‘Starfighter’ Amid ‘Mandalorian & Grogu’ Worry

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Disney seems to have more confidence in a new, standalone Star Wars movie, Starfighter, planned for 2027, than in the highly anticipated The Mandalorian & Grogu, which arrives in a few weeks. It’s a surprising shift in focus between these two Star Wars projects.

Sources speaking with Variety say some Disney employees are worried about the limited buzz surrounding the upcoming Mandalorian spinoff movie directed by Jon Favreau. This concern follows a disappointing reaction to the film’s Super Bowl ad.

Fans were expecting a complete trailer, but instead received a short, 36-second ad showing the main characters traveling through the snow on a hover-wagon pulled by tauntauns. Although a full trailer has now been released, the initial ad, which focused more on atmosphere than details, didn’t create the buzz the marketing team had hoped for, according to Variety.

However, people at Disney who have previewed footage from Starfighter, set to release in spring 2027, are more hopeful that it will satisfy dedicated Star Wars fans. They believe it better embodies the fun, exciting spirit that has been lacking in recent films.

According to Variety, the upcoming Star Wars film, Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy (known for Deadpool & Wolverine), is getting positive buzz. People who’ve seen early footage are particularly impressed with Ryan Gosling’s performance and believe Levy has brought back the fun and excitement that fans love in the Star Wars franchise. It seems likely to please audiences when it’s released next spring.

I’m so excited for the new Star Wars movie, Starfighter! While details are still pretty scarce, I know it stars Ryan Gosling, Amy Adams, Mia Goth, and Matt Smith, which is a fantastic cast. From what Lucasfilm has said, it’s not going to be a continuation of existing stories – it’s a completely new tale set about five years after The Rise of Skywalker. It sounds like we’re heading into uncharted territory in the Star Wars universe, and I can’t wait to see what it’s all about!

Fans can see The Mandalorian & Grogu in cinemas starting May 22, 2026. Star Wars: Starfighter will follow in theaters on May 28, 2027.

Every Star Wars Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

12. Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

The movie The Clone Wars feels more like a test run for a TV show than a complete film, and its animation is surprisingly rough. (I’ve even dozed off while watching it a couple of times!) It’s particularly frustrating that Netflix offers The Clone Wars but doesn’t have any of the main Star Wars movies – it’s a real tease for fans.

11. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)

Let’s settle the real debate: is Attack of the Clones or The Phantom Menace the worse Star Wars film? I’m going with Clones. Hayden Christensen isn’t as good as Jake Lloyd, especially in those awkward scenes with Natalie Portman, the plot is confusing, and the Jedi seem unbelievably clueless about the villain who’s clearly manipulating them. Plus, I really dislike sand, and this movie features a lot of it, which bothers me.

10. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

Look, I really wanted to love The Phantom Menace. There’s a genuinely fascinating idea at its core – a scheming politician exploiting chaos to grab control and dismantle any kind of fair system. But honestly, it gets lost in so much fluff! All those boring trade federation arguments, Jar Jar’s silly antics, and, ugh, those midi-chlorians… it just bogged everything down. Thankfully, the podrace sequence was thrilling, and that lightsaber duel with Darth Maul at the end finally delivered the excitement I was hoping for.

9. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Despite a strong finish, the film largely feels like an origin story for Han Solo, and at times, it delves even deeper into backstory and unnecessary details than the much-criticized Star Wars prequels. It’s packed with confusing appearances from familiar characters and relies heavily on appealing to fans.

8. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)

While Revenge of the Sith is generally considered the best of the prequel films, that’s not saying much – it’s like choosing the least unpleasant of several bad experiences. The way Anakin transforms into Darth Vader feels a bit clumsy and over-the-top, but the final scenes of Vader and the Emperor overlooking the Death Star are genuinely frightening. It’s also refreshing to see a blockbuster that doesn’t shy away from darkness, with so many major characters either dying or falling under the Emperor’s control.

7. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

While an improvement over the earlier Star Wars prequels, The Rise of Skywalker was still a letdown for many fans. J.J. Abrams, who successfully revived the series with The Force Awakens, returned to conclude the Skywalker saga, but the final film felt like a predictable blend of action and appeals to nostalgia. Compared to the more daring storytelling of The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker played it safe and lacked the same creative spark.

6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

I appreciate that Lucasfilm aimed for a more mature and gritty Star Wars film, and Rogue One does have some genuinely powerful scenes and impressive visuals. (The opening shot, for example, initially appears to be a standard Imperial ship flying by, but cleverly reveals itself as the rings of an alien planet viewed from an unusual perspective.) However, director Gareth Edwards seems more skilled at depicting large-scale threats than developing relatable characters, and this is where the film falls short of the typical Star Wars experience – it lacks the charming and memorable heroes we’ve come to expect.

5. Return of the Jedi (1983)

Okay, the Ewoks might be a little too cute, but they seem sophisticated when you compare them to some of the annoying aliens in the prequel movies. Return of the Jedi doesn’t have a very complicated story – Luke and his friends rescue Han from Jabba the Hutt and destroy another Death Star – but it does a great job of continuing the character arcs we’ve seen in the first two films, especially the relationships between Luke, Darth Vader, and the Emperor.

4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

Following a string of disappointing prequels, The Force Awakens surprisingly revitalized the Star Wars franchise. Some criticize the film for being very similar to A New Hope. However, successfully recreating the plot and feel of such a classic movie – and introducing a new generation of lead actors to replace iconic characters – was a remarkable achievement.

3. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

Perhaps even more surprising than The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi boldly mirrored The Empire Strikes Back by placing its heroes, both new and familiar, in their most challenging situation yet. The film took a dramatic turn by portraying Luke Skywalker as a disillusioned and broken man. Despite being the darkest of the Star Wars sequels, it also manages to be one of the most fun, thanks to memorable scenes like Poe Dameron playfully taunting the Empire and Luke’s unusual habit of drinking milk directly from an alien creature.

2. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Now let’s talk about a big debate: Is A New Hope better than The Empire Strikes Back? It really depends on what you like more – the fresh, groundbreaking feel of the first movie, or the polished, more sophisticated approach of the second. My ranking probably gives away my preference, but honestly, you can’t go wrong with either one.

1. Star Wars (1977)

Still the gold standard after 40 years, the original Star Wars remains unmatched. Nothing has captured the magic of its characters, thrilling adventure, and iconic final battle like the original – despite many attempts, often through imitation. Simply put, if I had all these films to choose from right now, I’d pick Star Wars.

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2026-02-26 23:09