Ryan Gosling's Star Wars Movie May Have A Bigger Budget Than The Force Awakens

According to Forbes, Shawn Levy's upcoming film "Star Wars: Starfighter," which is being fronted by Ryan Gosling, had already cost $226.5 million to make by the time filming was done. For context, that's more than J.J. Abram's 2015 ultra-blockbuster "Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens" cost at the same point in its development. Indeed, in 2025, a separate Forbes report revealed that "The Force Awakens" had a total budget of $638.9 million prior to accounting for tax credits, making it one of the most expensive movies of all time. 

Of course, it's worth remembering that "The Force Awakens" remains Disney's most profitable "Star Wars" movie to date, with earnings of $500.2 million thanks to its gargantuan box office haul. No doubt, that's part of why Mouse House is willing to risk spending a similar amount to make "Star Wars: Starfighter." For the time being, though, it remains to be how much post-production on the movie winds up costing.

Naturally, there are other reasons Disney is willing to invest as much as it is here. It helps that "Star Wars: Starfighter" is being directed by Levy, who's fresh off the Marvel Cinematic Universe smash-hit "Deadpool & Wolverine." What's more, Levy is known for making lucrative movies in general, be they the "Night at the Museum" films, "Free Guy," "Real Steel," or even something as worlds apart from those visual effects-heavy offerings as "Date Night."

Still, whichever way you slice it, "Star Wars: Starfighter" will be one expensive flick — and it may act as a litmus test for the future of the "Star Wars" franchise in general.

"Star Wars: Starfighter" will pick up a few years after the events of "Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker" and follow a Starfighter pilot (Ryan Gosling) as he takes on a mission that involves a younger individual played by Flynn Gray ("Wednesday"). The film also co-stars Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, and Amy Adams in as-yet undisclosed roles, although writer Jonathan Tropper ("The Adam Project") has said that "Starfighter" won't feature any legacy characters.

Notably, the most recent "Star Wars" feature film, Jon Favreau's "The Mandalorian and Grogu," was a box office disappointment. At the same time, that movie was an extension of the Disney+ series "The Mandalorian," whereas "Starfighter" is covering all-new territory and, thus, may have broader appeal in theaters. And let's not forget that Gosling has huge hits like "Barbie" and "Project Hail Mary" under his belt (though, granted, that didn't save "The Fall Guy" from misfiring financially in 2024).

Basically, when push comes to shove, "Starfighter" should offer a better idea of whether the current passion for "Star Wars" is cooling or not than "The Mandalorian & Grogu" did. Still, based on how much it's cost to make so far, the film may have an uphill commercial battle ahead of it.

"Star Wars: Starfighter" is slated to open in theaters on May 28, 2027.