Ryan Gosling Says Star Wars: Starfighter Will Use Practical Puppets

Ryan Gosling has confirmed that Star Wars: Starfighter will feature practical puppets, dropping one of the most reassuringly Star Wars details fans could have hoped to hear this early in the film’s rollout. The comment came during press for Project Hail Mary, when Gosling was asked whether the upcoming Lucasfilm movie would include practical puppets. His answer was brief, slightly cautious, and very on-brand: “Yes… I think I can say that.”

That may sound like a tiny production note, but in Star Wars terms, it is not. Puppets, animatronics, suits, and tactile creature work are part of the series’ visual DNA, from the Mos Eisley cantina to Yoda, Jabba, the porgs, Neel in Skeleton Crew, and just about every weird little alien that makes the galaxy feel lived-in. Star Wars has a long history of blending practical creature effects with digital work, and Lucasfilm has continued highlighting that mix in recent productions.

#RyanGosling says “Star Wars: Starfighter” will feature practical puppets:

“I think I can say that?” pic.twitter.com/1gKMYpanFB

— Variety (@Variety) March 19, 2026

A Small Quote That Says a Lot

There is a reason this detail is landing well.

When fans hear “practical puppets,” they do not just hear a behind-the-scenes workflow choice. They hear texture. They hear weight. They hear the promise that Star Wars: Starfighter might lean into the kind of tactile worldbuilding that makes creatures and background characters feel like they are actually sharing the frame with the actors, instead of floating in from a render farm five months later.

That does not mean the movie is going full 1983, of course. ILM will still be doing ILM things. But the fact that Gosling casually confirmed practical puppets suggests Starfighter is at least interested in keeping one foot planted in classic Star Wars moviemaking craft.

Why It Fits Starfighter

Lucasfilm officially announced Star Wars: Starfighter last year, with Shawn Levy directing and Gosling starring. The film is set approximately five years after The Rise of Skywalker, follows new characters, and is scheduled to begin production in the fall. Lucasfilm also previously announced a theatrical release date of May 28, 2027.

So while Gosling did not reveal a creature, a character, or a scene, he did reveal something about the movie’s likely texture. And honestly, for a Star Wars film called Starfighter, knowing there may be real puppets and practical alien work in the mix is exactly the kind of tiny update that helps the project feel a little more real.

The Right Kind of Early Signal

At this stage, Star Wars: Starfighter is still mostly title, date, talent, and vibes.

But this is a good vibe.

Because if your first real production detail is Ryan Gosling half-confirming that the movie has practical puppets, that is not just harmless fan service. That is Lucasfilm quietly reminding everyone that even in a newer post-sequel-era story, Star Wars still knows what Star Wars is supposed to feel like.

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