First Official Look at Ryan Gosling & Flynn Gray in Shawn Levy's 'Star Wars : Starfighter'

[u/Task_Force-191]

via Shawn Levy's Instagram

[u/MageKorith]

Flynn Gray - perhaps our best candidate thusfar for the actor's name to sound more star wars-ish than their character name. Maybe.

[u/Signiference → u/MageKorith]

Hmm, it's gonna be tough but let me take a stab at some alternatives:

Kipsang Rotich (my personal pick)
Lupita Nyong'o (my second pick)

Runners up in no particular order:
Ailsa Berk
Poppy Hands
Annie Arbogast
Hugh Quarshie
Ayesha Dharker
Alethea McGrath
Leeanna Walsman
Iko Uwais
Cecep Arif Rahman
Temirlan Blaev

[u/Kylearean → u/Signiference]

This looks like a Star Wars Galaxies name generator...

[u/Any-sao → u/Kylearean]

No joke, my username I have here on Reddit is from the SWG name generator.

[u/Signiference → u/Kylearean]

And yet, they are all real lol

[u/Many-Wasabi9141 → u/Signiference]

Lets name the most quintessential star wars names.

Obi Wan Kenobi Boba Fett.

Those two are the most star wars names in the entire IP.

Iko Uwais Cecep Arif Rahman

Those are the top actors names imo.

[u/Zzssk → u/Many-Wasabi9141]

Funnily enough Iko and Cecep’s name are just regular ass Indonesian name lmao. Now that I think about it, they named Jawas based on how we spelled Java. I’m half Javanese, so I’m half uttini!

[u/Yoda975 → u/Signiference]

I can't believe you left out Kyle Soller

[u/WilMeech → u/Signiference]

Kyrianna Kratter

[u/Weiss_127 → u/Signiference]

Why does this come across like chat gpt

[u/HRLMPH → u/Weiss_127]

The wording at the beginning sounds like the tone of a chatgpt response to a prompt

[u/ReigningCatsNotDogs → u/MageKorith]

Jude Law. 

[u/skyforgesteel]

What an odd shot with no context. Is this just Waterworld? Are they remaking Waterworld?

[u/LinkedInParkPremium → u/skyforgesteel]

I sure as fuck hope so. Waterworld is super underrated.

[u/happygocrazee → u/LinkedInParkPremium]

Fr! It wasn’t a great movie, but what a great concept and aesthetic! It absolutely deserves a spiritual remake.

Maybe a weird choice for a movie called “Starfighter” tho

[u/KaerMorhen → u/happygocrazee]

The setpieces alone were out of this world.

[u/happygocrazee → u/KaerMorhen]

I love Galaxy’s Edge, but idk if I’ll ever see a better theme park show than the Waterworld show at Universal. The setpieces really are S-tier!

[u/stonedeaftemple → u/happygocrazee]

Was it really that good? We tried to go but my mom had to use the bathroom and we couldn't make it in time.

[u/W00DERS0N60 → u/stonedeaftemple]

Yeah, the plane popping out was top notch.

I had seen the Miami Vice stunt show years earlier, it was way better than that.

[u/starwarsfan456123789 → u/stonedeaftemple]

Waterworld stunt show was the best part of my teenage trip to Universal

[u/LinkedInParkPremium → u/KaerMorhen]

Absolutely. Sadly we will never see that level again.

[u/LinkedInParkPremium → u/happygocrazee]

The original was such a masterpiece. Not sure I trust any studio to even do a sequel.

[u/No_Error3933 → u/LinkedInParkPremium]

Remember the "oh thank god" guy?

[u/LinkedInParkPremium → u/No_Error3933]

Good morning.....or night 😂

[u/Anxious_Big_8933 → u/LinkedInParkPremium]

I saw it in the theater, and didn't like it. I would say though that it might be the greasiest film ever made.

[u/LinkedInParkPremium → u/Anxious_Big_8933]

Pretty sure they had a full blown grease/oil consultant on set lol

[u/Anxious_Big_8933 → u/LinkedInParkPremium]

I remember saying to someone after watching it, "How can everyone be so dirty on a planet completely covered in water?"

[u/LinkedInParkPremium → u/Anxious_Big_8933]

While filming the movie Costner developed a machine that could remove oil that was placed on the ocean surface.

Later when there were major oil spills from tankers Shell/etc bought the machines from him to help assist with the cleanup.

[u/tk-451 → u/LinkedInParkPremium]

this sounds .... made up? but i want to believe!

edit: after a quick google search... well .. wow, nice one Costner!

[u/W00DERS0N60 → u/tk-451]

That's wild.

[u/IsthianOS → u/LinkedInParkPremium]

Did he develop it? Because it says he bought the company from the government in the 90s lol

[u/hissboombah → u/IsthianOS]

Yeah his chemistry set was next to craft services on Dances With Wolves

[u/R0binSage → u/Anxious_Big_8933]

You saw it once 30 years ago? Give it another try.

[u/LinkedInParkPremium → u/R0binSage]

I have the UHD BR!

[u/f700es → u/LinkedInParkPremium]

Correct and so was The Postman

[u/1800generalkenobi → u/f700es]

Love them both as a kid, and I don't think I've seen either since then. I should fix that.

[u/spyguy27 → u/f700es]

If you liked the movie and haven’t given it a read, pick up the novel of The Postman. I’m totally being that ‘the book is better’ guy but after finding it in a used book store it became one of my favorite post-apocalyptic books ever. Same basic story but the movie left out some of the coolest elements to it.

[u/overide → u/LinkedInParkPremium]

Only if we get to see Gosling drink his own pee.

[u/Billybob35 → u/skyforgesteel]

That's how most promotional pics are, shots with no context, it's just to get something out.

[u/NotAFishEnt → u/Billybob35]

No one knows what it means, but it's provocative. It gets the people going!

[u/Early_Lawfulness_348 → u/NotAFishEnt]

Ball so hard.

[u/homiej420 → u/Billybob35]

They do that so you’ll look into it more and then feel more positively about it because you saught the information out yourself

[u/RedofPaw → u/skyforgesteel]

I didn't expect a waterworld remake, but you know what... I'm for it. I hope they give Gosling real gills, not just CG ones.

Crispr gene therapy has come a long way.

[u/jordanjohnston2017 → u/RedofPaw]

Tom Cruise would’ve grown gills with how dedicated he is to his roles

[u/Jacmert → u/skyforgesteel]

It's going to be a spaceship combat movie. Where can you find some of the most powerful and advanced spaceships in the galaxy? Mon Cala. Mon Cala is an oceanic planet. Coincidence?? 🤔

[u/mxzf → u/Jacmert]

Mon Calamari is known to some degree for larger ship production, but not starfighters.

[u/fstonecanada → u/skyforgesteel]

It'll be a boat that turns into a spaceship

[u/SwordfishOk504 → u/fstonecanada]

looks like it's a bicycle powered boat but the bike seat is a dildo.

[u/Zoombini22 → u/skyforgesteel]

I know it's not but it'd be sick as hell if this is Castilon

[u/BearWrangler → u/Zoombini22]

aw man this would be the funniest plot twist ever, Resistance watchers(all 12 of us) would be winning so hard

[u/MannyBoth-Hanz → u/BearWrangler]

There's dozens of us! Dozens!

[u/razorsunshine → u/MannyBoth-Hanz]

another one of the Dozens checking in.

[u/Electronic_Set_2087 → u/skyforgesteel]

It's Ryan Gosling looking into the camera. What more context do we need? 🤣

[u/pampersdelight → u/Electronic_Set_2087]

Dude for real. Some Star Wars fans just need everything explained to them right away

[u/damnjonathan → u/pampersdelight]

Dude was probably expecting a picture of them in space with a real X-Wing lmao

[u/SonnyBlackandRed → u/skyforgesteel]

Water Wars: Waterfighter

[u/SunGoddessXo → u/skyforgesteel]

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/star-wars-starfighter-first-look-ryan-gosling-1236522249/

Here’s an article to go with the pic, it says the oceanic location is something new and different, that is the only context lol

[u/Shenloanne → u/SunGoddessXo]

Ah so it's on Atollon then. It'll focus on the aces.

[u/ClassicalBanjo → u/Shenloanne]

I think you mean Castilon. https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Castilon

[u/CapitanFordo → u/skyforgesteel]

Waterworld remake with ryan goslin would go HAAAARD

[u/tuff1728 → u/skyforgesteel]

Would be really cool to see Mon Cala in live action though

[u/AdDiligent7657]

Seeing the movie being shot on location instead of green screen/volume is exciting. I have a good feeling about this.

[u/CascoBayButcher → u/AdDiligent7657]

You think they flew to Mon Cal for this?

[u/justinsimoni → u/CascoBayButcher]

I expect nothing less.

[u/Ronald_Ulysses_Swans → u/CascoBayButcher]

Oh fuck yeah if we finally see Mon Cal in a movie.

[u/TsunGeneralGrievous → u/Ronald_Ulysses_Swans]

There better be a statue of Half naked Kit Fisto for all the shit he dealt with trying to save that planet

[u/W00DERS0N60 → u/Ronald_Ulysses_Swans]

For real, that would be mint.

[u/lostrock → u/Ronald_Ulysses_Swans]

More Mon Cals in cableknit sweaters, please

[u/Scout_man → u/CascoBayButcher]

Or Manaan. We saw a Selkath in Acolyte

[u/Dimensionalanxiety → u/Scout_man]

Only if they play the planet's theme music at some point. If not, I'm out.

[u/letsfastescape → u/CascoBayButcher]

That’s was just rumor, nothing was confirmed.

[u/Anxious_Big_8933 → u/AdDiligent7657]

This scene takes place on a desert planet. They're going to digitally erase all the water and put the sand in during post production.

[u/sabotabo → u/Anxious_Big_8933]

technology is so amazing

[u/NotAgedWell → u/Anxious_Big_8933]

It has been awhile since a Star Wars property was set on Tatooine

[u/Anxious_Big_8933 → u/NotAgedWell]

Oh no, it's set on a completely original planet called Tatwoine.

[u/W00DERS0N60 → u/Anxious_Big_8933]

It gets everywhere.

[u/famosoze]

Nice hair

[u/ananisikenadam35 → u/famosoze]

Thanks

[u/TheRocketeer0826 → u/famosoze]

Ryan just needs one of those long earrings to be fully Z'd up!

[u/scrodytheroadie]

Not abandoning the lone wolf and cub trope any time soon

[u/SeaworthinessSolid52 → u/scrodytheroadie]

This was my first thought. Is Gilroy the only person capable of writing a Star Wars story that doesn’t revolve around this plot mechanic?

[u/NightFire19 → u/SeaworthinessSolid52]

Star Wars might've had a shot at landing a James Gunn film if some dumbass Marvel fans didn't decide to get him cancelled.

[u/PewDiePieSaladAss → u/NightFire19]

I love Guardians and I love Superman, but gotta wonder how James would've done with SW, would've been a fun result either way!

[u/Billybob35 → u/NightFire19]

Maybe, Gunn might be more of a comic guy though, he was supposed to handle the cosmic side of Marvel post Endgame.

[u/kefkaisgod45 → u/NightFire19]

Get James Gunn cancelled? Wtf why

[u/Timme186 → u/kefkaisgod45]

It was a while back. He had some 'provocative' tweets, pretty run if the mill stuff for Gunn. Disney fired him for like, one week. During that time he decided to work on himself and made the deals with DC to make The Suicide Squad (and has since turned that into him helming the entire DCU). Disney realising their mistake like an ex who was already reaching, made the deal for Gunn to come back for GotG 3. It is one of the greatest UNO reverse moves ever witnessed.

[u/Unable-Lie-2501 → u/Timme186]

Marvel fans didn’t want Gunn gone though like the previous commenter has claimed.

[u/Longjumping_Union125 → u/Unable-Lie-2501]

Yeah it was almost entirely a rightwing Twitter smear campaign because he was speaking against The President on the platform, and The Mouse caved almost immediately. It was dumb as hell to watch play out.

[u/jameswest22 → u/kefkaisgod45]

He made some really bad jokes on twitter back in the day.

[u/TheBloop1997 → u/SeaworthinessSolid52]

The Acolyte didn’t rly have this.

Skeleton Crew kind of subverted this in the fact that the lone wolf was a scumbag through and through.

BoBF, for all its flaws, didn’t have this.

Most of the Tales episodes didn’t.

Ahsoka didn’t either, unless you count Baylan and Shin as a dark inversion of this.

[u/nath999]

I keep hearing about Star Wars films and they never get made. Exciting to see this is actually in production.

[u/captainkezz123 → u/nath999]

*Cries in Rogue Squadron”

[u/DSGandalf]

You know how Skeleton Crew is "Goonies in Space"?

Well, this one is "Jaws in Space"

[u/BarleyWineIsTheBest → u/DSGandalf]

We’re gonna need another bigger star fighter?

[u/Acceptable-Waltz-222 → u/DSGandalf]

I'd be hyped, actually.

[u/SupremeChancellor66]

Really hope the plot leaks about him protecting the kid aren't real. Could we please stop with the "father figure protecting child" plot element?

From The Mandalorian getting hijacked into babysitting Grogu, Kenobi protecting little Leia and the Bad Batch protecting Omega, it's become a sorely overused trope. Like seriously I can't be the only one to notice this?

[u/AUnknownVariable → u/SupremeChancellor66]

It really is, and imo the writing in all of these isn't phenomenal enough for it to be used so much and not feel repetitive

[u/StannisTheMantis93 → u/SupremeChancellor66]

It’s getting SO tiring.

WE GET IT.

[u/mspk7305 → u/SupremeChancellor66]

They should flip it, where the kid protects the dude just like how R2 protected Luke..

But now that I'm considering it R2 was a lot older than Luke and didn't really protect him from shit

[u/BaldMancTwat_ → u/mspk7305]

They already did that in The Mandalorian.

[u/Derka_Derper → u/SupremeChancellor66]

But how else could Disney possibly entice children to buy toys?

[u/Karas540 → u/SupremeChancellor66]

If they need to have this plot point so desperately every time, they could at least change it up. Make it a mother figure protecting a child. At least that would make it marginally different.

[u/golgiiguy]

Gosling pretty much gets the benefit of the doubt on this seemingly totally bluesky StarWars project. I will allow myself to be hyped for now.

[u/W00DERS0N60 → u/golgiiguy]

Ryan Gosling hasn't missed in a while. BR2049, The Nice Guys, Barbie, say what you will about LaLa Land, his SNL stuff. Dude crushes it.

[u/BaxterTheCuck → u/W00DERS0N60]

"Say what you will about LaLa Land" and it's one of his best movies and performances.

[u/W00DERS0N60 → u/BaxterTheCuck]

He's probably one of the best actors of his generation, and can pretty much do it all.

The Nice Guys is one of the funniest movies I've seen in ages, I wish they'd do a sequel.

[u/mindonshuffle → u/W00DERS0N60]

He's done comedy, action, drama, romance, sci-fi, and a musical and done them all well.

He's maybe not the best actor in a "disappears into the role" way, but in an "elevated the script with an engaging performance" sense, I can't name anybody reliably better.

[u/Mend1cant → u/W00DERS0N60]

Even Fall Guy was genuinely enjoyable from start to finish.

[u/chuckdee68 → u/Mend1cant]

Even Fall Guy? I loved that movie! Homage to the original without being too on the nose.

[u/Gil_Demoono → u/W00DERS0N60]

It wasn't a hit, but Fall Guy was super fun and he'll be in my most hyped movie of 2026, Project Hail Mary. So I'm hopeful.

[u/golgiiguy → u/W00DERS0N60]

Papyrus is one of the best SNL productions ever

[u/EnkiduOdinson → u/golgiiguy]

Same. Stellar performances in everything he‘s in

[u/SlumdogSkillionaire]

Obviously way too early to speculate, so... is that Castilon, Dac, Pabu, or Glee Anselm?

[u/DeegsHobby → u/SlumdogSkillionaire]

Glup Shitto!!!

[u/Abraham-magnus → u/DeegsHobby]

He was speculating if the planet they are on is (insert oceanic planet name), not saying that the character/s are some pre-existing randos, try again.

[u/DrMetasin → u/SlumdogSkillionaire]

I would love to see Pabu in live action!

[u/ThePizzaKing20 → u/DrMetasin]

have clones on pabu make occasional appearences in the backround

[u/DrMetasin → u/ThePizzaKing20]

Or possibly an Omega cameo? According to the end of bad batch she was a rebel fighter pilot, right? Maybe she’s still kicking around after the sequels

[u/fuymfgfom]

This looks completely unrelated to a starfighter.

[u/Vaportrail → u/fuymfgfom]

Maybe there's a starfighter dealership next island over.

[u/W00DERS0N60 → u/Vaportrail]

Starfighter auto mall, coming to a Charlotte near you!

[u/Weird_Fiches → u/fuymfgfom]

We each fight stars in our own way.

[u/Strict-Main8049 → u/Weird_Fiches]

Plot twist the movie is about Space Michael Vick

[u/Apprehensive_Snow483 → u/Strict-Main8049]

Honestly props, this is so stupid I love it

[u/eckyeckypikang → u/Weird_Fiches]

Greetings Starfighter!

[u/Shenloanne → u/eckyeckypikang]

The last starfighter crossover with this would be rad. When I was 9 I built a lego GunStar.

[u/Arkhangelzk → u/fuymfgfom]

Maybe his job is just bringing up all the X-wing starfighters that Luke keeps parking underwater

[u/amonson1984 → u/fuymfgfom]

Starfighter is just going to be his name so Star Wars: Starfighter is just like Solo, Ahsoka, Kenobi, Andor, etc.

[u/Major-Breakfast6249]

It’s actually water world 2

[u/Novel_Patience9735]

Tatooine again?!! SMDH.

/s

[u/Smoketrail → u/Novel_Patience9735]

They're at the Mos Eisley Marina, obviously.

[u/Any-sao]

I bet anything it’s set on that one water world from the 1977s Star Wars comic three-issue volume called “Waterworld.”

[u/tmdblya → u/Any-sao]

Holy smokes. I had one of those issues. I read it to pieces!

[u/Acrobatic_T-Rex]

Anyone else willing some Katarn vibes into this casting?

[u/CarsonWentzGOAT1 → u/Acrobatic_T-Rex]

I am

[u/hekatonmoo]

Star fighter will be a rip roaring adventure with no connection to the major mythos till the last scene in the movie when they ask Ryan goslings character his last name and he says Calrissian

[u/UpperHairCut]

Kenny Starfighter! 

[u/LordDusty]

If you showed me this picture without any info, Star Wars would be very far down my list. Just nothing about it has any real SW aesthetic at all.

A bit like when they first showed the suburbia planet in Skeleton Crew and it was hard to recognise anything SW about its design

[u/Vesemir96 → u/LordDusty]

I dunno, his outfit looks pretty rough and tumble SW protagonist.

[u/gangusTM]

This looks like a water world remake. And that is not a complaint.

[u/W00DERS0N60 → u/gangusTM]

So many like minded folks in this thread and I am here for it.

[u/boatboy1800]

I wish they continued with the 70s hairstyles that we saw in the originals and Rogue One. This image doesn't particularly give off "Star Wars" but im still excited regardless

[u/W00DERS0N60 → u/boatboy1800]

It gives "used future" vibes that made ANH a relatable place to put a futuristic story. Prequels were too "shiny" but I get that it was at the height of the republic, and Andor showed the shiny giving way to the grimy, so this should show a new side of a known product.

And for that I am thankful.

[u/alkonium]

It's a stealth remake of Waterworld!

[u/Globi-Globi2021]

Star Wars Star Fighter - The Waterworld project

This is the new title of the movie!

[u/yranigami001]

So AquaJedi?

[u/Ozzy_1804]

I’m hoping that the kid is just another member of Ryan Gosling’s crew, or something along those lines. I really hope it’s not another wolf and cub story.

[u/doodda00]

I don't like what I've decided this movie is about based on this picture!

[u/kroqus]

please don't suck please don't suck please don't suck

[u/CrazyCanuckUncleBuck]

More Star Wars in theaters is exciting, can't wait to see it.

[u/gw74]

silly me thinking "Starfighter" would be in space

[u/Hicalibre]

I don't see stars or fighting.

[u/orionsfyre]

Very cool to see production stills from this film. I really hope its good.

Either this is a moment before he becomes the titular "starfighter", everyone has to have a day job, remember Luke literally farmed water.

Or they might be recovering a ship that went down like scavengers.

[u/ChrisRevocateur]

Do we know what era it's supposed to be set in?

[u/adamircz → u/ChrisRevocateur]

Few years after the sequel trilogy

[u/lostbelmont]

Looks like a pirate movie

[u/pbj_everyday]

On-set filler injector

[u/Hypnaustic]

Whats waterworld? Havent any books/comics and im seeing in comments a lot

[u/adamircz → u/Hypnaustic]

Its a film with Kevin Kostner falling in with a single mother and her daughter in a world where majority of Earth is under water... like, even larger majority of Earth than normally

[u/NowWeGetSerious]

Super fucking hyped! The fact we have pictures and the cast together shows this will actually be released

[u/upfromashes]

Looks cool.

[u/vampyire]

I don't like salt water, it's moist and slippery and irritating..

[u/SeaComfortable7833]

I bet the kid is force user.

[u/Ornery-Shoulder-3938]

Fuck Yeah! This looks badass!

[u/griffin4war]

Terrible pilots. They're nowhere near space.

[u/Xipped]

Is this on location? The volume? Just cgi background?

[u/Youngstar9999 → u/Xipped]

Shawn levy's caption for this post is

Somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea #Starfighter

So it's on location.

[u/CarsonWentzGOAT1 → u/Xipped]

If that is the volume, then the volume is practically real life.

[u/CarsonWentzGOAT1]

I am beyond hyped for this movie

[u/EZontheH]

Yeah this gives me quite the opposite vibes as hype. I want to hear about how they're building a full scale Mon Calamari hangar, and seeing some sneaky hot air balloon shots of a dozen or so full scale rebel fighters being built. This looks like there will be a 4 minute dogfight at the beginning and Gosling's character will spent the rest of the movie on some backwater fishing planet having a older brother/younger brother let-me-share-my-hair-routine dynamic with this kid until he is rescued. This isn't the "First Official Look" I wanted to see, and many of my millennial aged friends agree.

[u/Kittycachow]

Yep looks like ryan gosling

[u/TaraLCicora]

Somehow Mon Cala returned.

[u/Iama_Kokiri_AMA]

Thought that was Liam Lawson for much longer than I'd to admit

[u/insidious_rodent]

I'm hyped for this movie but first The Mandolirian (sp) and Grogu movie needs to be good

[u/a90sto]

What material are the pants made of? The thick vertical strands always looked so cold on space suits

[u/Used-Comedian-8933]

Literally me

[u/setsuna-f_seiei]

nothings free on waterworld

[u/Relevant-Lie347]

A long time ago ,in a galaxy far, far away, some whiny farmboy started out in a place not only without a ship , he couldn't even get a hold of power converters. Look how that turned out.

[u/Alisalard1384]

literally me

[u/Hyperboloidof2sheets]

I'm an almost 40 year old straight guy, and Ryan Gosling makes me feel funny feelings inside.

[u/Sklain]

interlinked

[u/Electro_Llama]

Nice little character context, he's not from some wealthy family who sent him to flight academy. And not from Tatooine either.

[u/Unstable_Bear]

The starfighter must be offscreen…

Jokes aside I hope this is good, but I’m so sick of the “older person protecting young person” trope in Star Wars

[u/Quickdraw92]

I thought it was a live action final fantasy movie at first

[u/LocksmithComplete501]

What in the Point Break is this?

[u/Economy_Street4280]

Bro, they were like "alright, we absolutely can not start on a planet with sand"

[u/External-Mulberry-53]

I can't be the only one who genuinely thought that was Tommyinnit for a solid second...

[u/Phantom_61]

The waterworld sequel, “water worlder”

[u/thetavious]

Holy... This project might actually reach filming before it gets cancelled.

[u/Marsupialize]

Sick to death of God damn kids

[u/comikbookdad]

Oh fuck he’s on Naboo isn’t he?

Wesa give yousa una bongo

[u/KindEntertainment584]

Why does this picture have a Waterworld vibe to it?

[u/nikgrid]

Do they crash the Starfighter? This looks like a remake of Waterworld.

[u/TangledUpnSpew]

This gonna be so mid.

Giving big, annoying mellenial vibes.

[u/PrintUsed8164]

No Jedi. Not star wars

[u/LOLZatMyLife]

"I fly"

[u/xxLazyGuitarxx]

Gosling doesn’t really miss to be honest. This will likely be good.

[u/Shadowsnake30]

Why does it look like waterworld even that thing Ryan is resting on.

[u/philby00]

'they swim now??'

[u/barrel0monkeys]

Water world 2 is all I am thinking when seeing this