Lucasfilm has enlisted British actor Matt Smith to play one of the principal antagonists in “Star Wars: Starfighter,” according to multiple trade publications including Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter. The film extends the studio’s return to cinemas after a multi-year hiatus for the franchise. Shawn Levy is directing from a screenplay by Jonathan Tropper, with Ryan Gosling in the lead role and Mia Goth already attached as a fellow villain. Principal photography is expected to begin in England this autumn, positioning the space-combat adventure for a 28 May 2027 theatrical debut. Set five years after the events of “The Rise of Skywalker,” the story centres on starfighter pilots charting a new narrative arc beyond the Skywalker saga. “Starfighter” is slated to follow 2026’s “The Mandalorian & Grogu” on Disney’s release calendar. Smith, best known for “Doctor Who” and HBO’s “House of the Dragon,” was previously rumoured for 2019’s “The Rise of Skywalker” before the role was cut. His casting adds marquee appeal to a project Lucasfilm views as critical to rejuvenating the franchise’s box-office momentum.