Marvel wasn’t the only major franchise feeling the love during Disney’s D23 event this weekend, as Star Wars: Starfighter and Ahsoka season two had a big presence.
Ryan Gosling is Kade Auberon
A big part of the D23 Star Wars fanfare was unveiling the name of Ryan Gosling’s character in Star Wars: Starfighter.
It was revealed on stage that Gosling’s character will be known as Kade Auberon, and the Canadian actor was also seen sporting a costume piece from the film.
Gosling donned Auberon’s jacket before dropping some character hints.
“Kade is a guy from the wrong side of the galaxy, whose fate is intertwined with the fastest starfighter ever built,” Gosling said.
The D23 audience was also given an exclusive first look at footage, with reports stating it showed Gosling stumbling upon a young man observing a decommissioned starfighter jet, known to be the fastest in the galaxy.
There’s then plenty of space flight with Gosling piloting said vehicle.
The film’s synopsis states: “When a cynical rogue is confronted by his mysterious past, he is hurled into a dangerous adventure across the galaxy that puts him on a crash course with destiny.”
That adventure most definitely revolves around the character of young actor Flynn Gray, despite the plot details being limited.
Celebrating 50 years of ‘Star Wars’
Star Wars: Starfighter also stars Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams.
It will release in cinemas on 28 May, 2027, which holds major significance that director Shawn Levy spoke on during D23.
“I am so honoured to release this film on the same weekend that the original film opened 50 years earlier,” Levy said.
“Starfighter embodies the themes of hope, family and adventure that have always been core to Star Wars, but our story takes place in a period of time that has never been seen before, which has been a privilege to create and explore.”
True enough, Starfighter is a standalone Star Wars entry set five years after the events of 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker.
New trailer for ‘Star Wars: Ahsoka’ season two
Returning to the small screen where Star Wars has enjoyed much success on Disney+ these last few years, a new trailer for Star Wars: Ahsoka was revealed.
The trailer shows Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) guiding his former Padawan Ahsoka (Rosario Dawson), asking her, “Are you a Jedi, or not?”
Ahsoka’s moral challenge comes amid the growing threat of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen), who appears determined to restore the Empire to its former glory.
Christensen, Dawson and Ezra Bridger actor Eman Esfandi stood upon the D23 stage to hail the oncoming second season of Ahsoka.
“As always, it’s such an honour to play Anakin Skywalker,” Christensen said, adding, “Anakin continues to advise Ahsoka, he challenges her and pushes her to answer the most important question in her life – are you or are you not a Jedi?”
Dawson, meanwhile, said, “This season is massive! The stakes are higher, the battles are bigger… and the threat of Thrawn looms large for Ahsoka, her crew, and the entire galaxy.”
Esfandi added, “[Ezra] has reunited with his Rebels family and is fighting for the New Republic against the Imperial remnant.”
Audiences will be able to see their stories unfold from 20 January 2027 on Disney+.
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