STAR WARS: STARFIGHTER Will Not Feature Any Legacy Characters, Says Screenwriter

Lucasfilm’s upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter movie is shaping up to be a fresh start for the franchise — and that includes no appearances by legacy characters from previous films.

According to screenwriter Jonathan Tropper, Starfighter is intentionally distancing itself from familiar faces like Luke Skywalker, Rey, or other established heroes and villains. Instead, Tropper says the story will entirely focus on new characters and a new chapter of the galaxy far, far away.

“No legacy characters” means a clean slate

In a recent comment addressing rumors ahead of the film’s planned 2027 release, Tropper confirmed the decision directly:

“I think it’s known that we have no legacy characters. You’re not going to see any of the characters you’ve seen in the other movies.”

That’s a significant creative choice, especially in a franchise that has often tied new projects closely to its past.

Why this matters for Starfighter

In recent years, Star Wars films and shows have frequently leaned on familiar characters from the Skywalker saga and extended universe. While that strategy can draw in long-time fans, it can also limit narrative freedom.

By deliberately excluding legacy figures, Starfighter may be positioning itself to:

• develop completely new protagonists and antagonists
• explore parts of the galaxy previously untouched on screen
• tell a story that feels fresh without being weighed down by continuity expectations

For some fans, this will be an exciting signal that Lucasfilm is ready to take bigger creative risks. For others, it will raise questions about how the film will connect to the broader Star Wars mythology.

A trend toward new storytelling

This creative direction mirrors comments from other auteurs linked to the franchise in recent months, including filmmaker Rian Johnson’s public support for “fresh voices” and new stories following leadership changes at Lucasfilm.

It also echoes trends across broader Hollywood franchises, where studios aim to balance fan service with narrative innovation — sometimes by focusing on entirely new casts and worlds.

What we still don’t know

While Tropper’s statement clarifies the absence of legacy characters, Starfighter still has many unknowns:

• Official plot details
• Casting announcements
• Whether the new characters will connect to Star Wars lore in subtle ways
• How tonal elements will compare with previous films

For now, fans can take Tropper at his word: Starfighter is looking to carve its own path, without leaning on familiar faces from the franchise’s history.

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