According to Forbes, which relies on tax documents, the feature film, shot mainly at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom, as well as in Sardinia, is said to have already swallowed up $226.5 million by early 2026. Thanks to a British tax credit of $51.5 million, the bill would however be reduced to around $175 million. An amount that is still provisional, and does not take into account visual effects, post-production, and upcoming distribution costs.
At this stage in its production, Star Wars : Starfighter would therefore cost more than The Force Awakens, have a budget comparable to that of The Last Jedi, while still remaining below The Rise of Skywalker.
Which pilots in Starfighter?
On the creative side, cinematography was entrusted to Claudio Miranda, the Oscar-winning cinematographer known in particular for his work on Top Gun : Maverick and Oblivion. The plot will explore a period as yet unseen in the saga, five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. Ryan Gosling will play Kade Auberon, a pilot, alongside Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Amy Adams, Aaron Pierre and Eva Mendes.
Let's hope that part of this colossal budget was indeed invested in writing the screenplay and not only in a barrage of special effects. And that the writers, like Shawn Levy, were able to find the inspiration and boldness needed to give the franchise a real boost. Recapturing the epic breath, the spirit of adventure and the magic of Episodes IV and V? That may be a pious wish, but it would already be not bad at all!
