Matt Smith has officially joined the cast of Star Wars: Starfighter, the upcoming Lucasfilm movie directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling. The trades confirm Smith will play one of the film’s villain roles.
Smith Lands Major Villain Role
Smith, known for House of the Dragon and Doctor Who, has been tapped for what’s being described as a key antagonist in Starfighter. While details are under wraps, the trades say Lucasfilm and Levy had been meeting with several actors for the part before locking in Smith.
There’s at least one other major villain role still to be cast. At one point, actress Mikey Madison was reportedly considered for the female antagonist.
This isn’t Smith’s first brush with Star Wars. Back in 2018, he was rumored to appear in The Rise of Skywalker as a younger version of Palpatine. That role never happened, but in a past interview, Smith confirmed the character was part of a “big story detail” that didn’t make it into the final script.
About the Movie
Star Wars: Starfighter is set five years after the events of Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker. It’s the first new Star Wars film to take place after the Skywalker saga. Plot details haven’t been revealed, but Lucasfilm announced the project earlier this year at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo.
Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) is directing. The script is by Jonathan Tropper, who previously worked with Levy on The Adam Project. The film will begin shooting in fall 2025 and is scheduled to hit theaters on May 28, 2027.
Cast and Production Status
So far, the cast includes:
- Ryan Gosling (lead role)
- Matt Smith (villain)
- Mia Goth (role unknown)
Levy is still finalizing the cast, especially the second main antagonist.
Smith’s Recent Work
Smith recently wrapped season two of HBO’s House of the Dragon. He also stars alongside Austin Butler in the upcoming Sony thriller Caught Stealing, directed by Darren Aronofsky, and has a role in the limited series The Death of Bunny Monro.
