Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter
A sequel set before and during the Battle of Geonosis.
Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter is a 2002 action video game developed and published by LucasArts for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It is the sequel to Star Wars: Starfighter and was positioned as an early tie-in to Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, incorporating the film's new Jedi starfighter as well as locations and craft from the then-upcoming movie. The game was re-released for the PlayStation 4 in North America on November 17, 2015, as part of the Star Wars Battlefront limited edition console bundle.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- LucasArts
- Director
- Daron Stinnett
- Designer
- Tim Longo
- Writer
- W. Haden Blackman
- Series
- Star Wars
- Platforms
- PlayStation 2
- Xbox
- PlayStation 3
- PlayStation 4
- Genre
- Action
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The story takes place just prior to the events of Attack of the Clones and during the Battle of Geonosis. It features Jedi Master Adi Gallia and the hot-headed pirate Nym, as Gallia tests out the Republic's new weapon: the Jedi Starfighter. Nym has been forcefully exiled from his base of operations on Lok by the Trade Federation. The Trade Federation seeks to create a potent weapon for the upcoming Clone Wars conflict and expand the growing Separatist movement opposing the Republic. Returning characters include Nym's Toydarian partner Reti and most of Nym's old crew. New characters include Jinkins, a Bith briefly mentioned in Star Wars Starfighter; Captain Orsai, a brave cruiser pilot; Kole, Nym's demolition expert; and the evil Captain Toth, leader of the Saboath mercenary army and mastermind behind the Hex Missile Threat.
Reader's Guide
Jedi Starfighter was met with positive reception upon release, with GameRankings and Metacritic scores of 81.96% and 81 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version, and 78.35% and 78 out of 100 for the Xbox version. Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine gave it a score of 8 out of 10, describing it as 'Starfighter returns with a few welcome innovations.' Famitsu gave the PS2 version a score of 32 out of 40. The game's cooperative mode allows a second player to control either a ship or a turret depending on the mission. Force weapons present a unique aspect to the genre: activated by holding a button until the screen turns purple and releasing before it becomes white, they are unlimited in number but require several seconds to recharge while Adi regains her mental strength. On PlayStation hardware, the PS2 version was released digitally on the PlayStation 3 in 2015 via the PS2 Classics library, and in 2016 was ported to the PlayStation 4 with trophy support and HD upgrades. On Xbox hardware, the Xbox version was added to the backwards compatible list for the Xbox 360, though this introduced small bugs including minor slowdown during menu selections and transitions, minor performance issues during cutscenes, and HUD elements randomly becoming solid instead of transparent.
The Long Road to the Director's Chair
Shawn Levy's connection to Star Wars stretches back to the mid-2010s, when he traveled to London specifically to sit down with Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and voice his deep admiration for the franchise along with his desire to helm a film within it. That initial conversation planted a seed, but it sat dormant for years while Levy became consumed with developing and directing the hit television series Stranger Things. When Kennedy reached out again in late 2022, Levy entered formal talks that November and publicly confirmed the arrangement the following month. He was acutely aware that numerous filmmakers had been announced for Star Wars projects that never materialized, yet he expressed confidence this one would move forward. After completing Deadpool and Wolverine for Marvel Studios, he was ready to pour his personal storytelling sensibility into the franchise. Kennedy's creative mandate was clear: bring the same intimate, character-driven tone he had cultivated in his other work. The 2023 Writers Guild of America strike temporarily froze all progress, but development resumed in October of that year, and Levy's longtime collaborator Jonathan Tropper was brought on board as writer in July 2024.
Building the Ensemble
The casting process for Star Wars: Starfighter unfolded over several months in 2025, blending established stars with fresh faces. Ryan Gosling, who entered talks in January 2025, was confirmed in April as Kade Auberon, the film's central figure. His interest in the role actually accelerated the production timeline, as Levy had been planning to direct a different project first. The teenage nephew of Auberon is portrayed by newcomer Flynn Gray, while Amy Adams plays the boy's mother. On the antagonistic side, Mia Goth stepped into the female villain role in June after Mikey Madison briefly negotiated but ultimately declined due to a salary disagreement. Matt Smith joined as a second antagonist in August, a connection Levy described as "destiny fulfilled" since Smith had originally been cast for The Rise of Skywalker but never appeared in that film. Rounding out the ensemble are Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, and Daniel Ings, all announced alongside the start of principal photography. The full cast was revealed in August 2025 when filming commenced in the United Kingdom.
Inventing a New Corner of the Galaxy
Levy has spoken openly about the unique pressure of creating a Star Wars film that is neither a sequel, a prequel, nor a legacy-character story. Because the narrative is set in a period of the galaxy never previously explored, the creative team is essentially inventing every element from scratch—planets, costumes, droids, alien species, and design choices all need to feel authentically "Star Wars-y" without leaning on established mythology. Writer Jonathan Tropper framed the project as a "simpler movie" compared to the Skywalker Saga entries, deliberately stripping away franchise mythology to keep barriers of entry as low as possible for new audiences. Principal photography kicked off at the end of August 2025 in the United Kingdom, with additional shooting taking place in Sardinia, Italy, and wrapping in December. The film is produced by Lucasfilm and Levy's 21 Laps Entertainment, distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, and scheduled for a May 28, 2027 theatrical release in the United States.
A Standalone Chapter, Not a Franchise Launchpad
Kathleen Kennedy made clear that Star Wars: Starfighter occupies a distinct position in the franchise timeline. Set approximately five years after The Rise of Skywalker (2019), it is positioned as a separate, standalone story featuring predominantly new characters, though some figures from the sequel trilogy may make appearances. Crucially, Kennedy emphasized it is not intended to launch a sequel or spin-off series. It is slated to follow The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026) as the next major Star Wars theatrical release. The film's title, Star Wars: Starfighter, was officially announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan in April 2025, alongside the release date and Gosling's casting confirmation. Notably, the title shares its name with an unrelated 2001 video game. With Dave Filoni stepping into the role of chief creative officer at Lucasfilm, the project benefits from his direct involvement in planning future films and series, ensuring creative continuity across the broader franchise while this particular story stands entirely on its own.
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