Disney (DIS) is entering new territory after it announced Star Wars: Starfighter, a new theatrical film set in the popular space opera series. This movie will star Ryan Gosling and is set to release sometime in 2027. This will have it follow The Mandalorian & Grogu as the second Star Wars movie to be released since the end of the Sequel Trilogy with 2019’s Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.
What’s more interesting about Star Wars: Starfighter is that it will take place roughly five to six years after The Rise of Skywalker. This will make it the first Star Wars film or series to explore the post-Episode IX timeline. It will also be the next film in the Star Wars watch order as an unnamed movie with Daisy Ridley reprising her role as Rey is set to take place about 15 years after Episode IX.
Disney’s Chance to Regain Star Wars Fans’ Trust
With Star Wars: Starfighter set after the Sequel Trilogy, this could mark a new chapter in the franchise and help Disney regain the trust of fans after the controversial releases of its last three films. The company could succeed in this as it’s brought on Shawn Levy to direct the film.
Levy has a long record of successes under his belt, including working on Netflix’s (NFLX) Stranger Things and directing Disney’s Deadpool & Wolverine. He’s also executive produced Last Man Standing, a TV series starring Tim Allen that was popular among conservatives. This could help him repair Disney’s relationship with half the country after the company’s promotion of liberal ideologies alienated right-leaning viewers. This could, in turn, make Star Wars: Starfighter a successful film and help usher in a new era for the franchise.
Is DIS Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Turning to Wall Street, the analysts’ consensus rating for Disney is Strong Buy, based on 15 Buy and four Hold ratings over the last three months. With that comes an average price target of $126.83, representing a potential 49.55% upside for DIS stock.
