Star Wars: Starfighter costs top The Force Awakens so far

The production of Star Wars: Starfighter has racked up $226.5 million in costs through early 2026, according to a Forbes‑derived filing. That figure exceeds the amount Disney had spent on The Force Awakens at the same point in its build‑out, and is comparable to The Last Jedi’s early‑stage expenses. A UK film‑tax credit of $51.5 million reduces the net spending to roughly $175 million, but post‑production and visual‑effects costs are still pending.

The film wrapped shooting in December 2025, well ahead of its scheduled May 28 2027 theatrical release. Set about five years after The Rise of Skywalker, it follows Ryan Gosling’s pilot Kade Auberon as he meets a teenage Force‑sensitive stranger. Director Shawn Levy, known for Deadpool & Wolverine, co‑wrote the story with Jonathan Tropper and the cast also includes Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings and Eva Mendes. The production took place largely at Pinewood Studios with location work in Sardinia.