Quick summary
- Three children’s books starring Kade Auberon, the character Ryan Gosling plays in Star Wars: Starfighter, are listed for 20 April 2027.
- The film is due on Memorial Day weekend, 28 May 2027, so the books give readers a first look more than a month early.
- Other tie-ins include a colouring book, sticker book, visual dictionary and a novelisation, according to The Direct.
- Separately, Scott Speedman has praised Gosling’s early comic work, and Gosling’s band Dead Man’s Bones released a new single in October.
Ryan Gosling Starfighter books: what has been announced
Fans will meet Ryan Gosling’s new Star Wars hero on the page before they see him on screen. According to The Direct, Penguin Random House has listed three children’s books about Kade Auberon, the lead character in Star Wars: Starfighter, all due on 20 April 2027.
That is roughly five weeks ahead of the film’s 28 May release, directed by Shawn Levy. The official synopses describe Kade as “a rogue with a mysterious past” who is swept into a dangerous, galaxy-spanning adventure.
The three titles are pitched at different ages:
- Rumble with the Rock Pirate, a Little Golden Book hardcover for ages two to five.
- Risk and Reward, a full-colour paperback storybook for ages three to seven.
- Rock Pirate Adventures, a Step 3 Step into Reading book for ages five to eight.
Two of the three mention a “Rock Pirate”, and the title of the first suggests Kade will clash with whoever or whatever that is. The Direct notes the books may offer backstory for Kade that the film does not, though that is the outlet’s reading of the listings rather than anything confirmed.
The wider Starfighter publishing push
The children’s stories are only part of the plan. The Direct lists a run of other releases:
- Art of Coloring: Star Wars: Starfighter, a 128-page book with 100 images, on 23 March 2027.
- Outer Rim Outcasts, a Step 2 Step into Reading book for ages four to six, on 20 April 2027.
- Star Wars Starfighter Ultimate Sticker Book from DK, with more than 200 stickers, on 4 May 2027.
- DK Super Readers Level 3 Star Wars Starfighter, a 48-page reader for ages eight to 10, on release day.
- Star Wars Starfighter Visual Dictionary, 176 pages, by Pablo Hidalgo, featuring new art and behind-the-scenes images.
- An official novelisation by Delilah S. Dawson on 22 June 2027.
The Direct says Matt Smith and Mia Goth are expected to play the film’s antagonists. It also reports that Kade will help protect his young nephew in the story, which fits the family-friendly tone of the books.
Why Lucasfilm wants an early start
The timing matters for the franchise. The Direct describes the return of Star Wars to cinemas earlier this year, with The Mandalorian and Grogu, as a disappointment for many fans, and says the live-action Disney+ output appears to be winding down after Ahsoka season two. That is the outlet’s assessment, but it explains why a new generation of young readers is being courted early.
A trailer exists but has only been shown to a limited audience at D23 in August, according to The Direct. It leaked online and was quickly removed. An official public release has not been announced.
Scott Speedman on Gosling’s comic roots
In other Gosling news, Scott Speedman has been talking about their early days. Speaking to People about his ABC series R.J. Decker, he recalled working with Gosling on Goosebumps and watching him on Canadian television. Yardbarker reports that Speedman called him “the Jim Carrey comic relief” of those shows, and said he is a “very, very gifted comedian” as seen on Saturday Night Live. We covered the interview in more detail in Scott Speedman Praises Ryan Gosling’s Early Comic Talent.
The same report says Gosling’s indie rock band Dead Man’s Bones, formed with Zach Shields, released a single called “Lost in the Night” in October. It is the band’s first release in more than 17 years, with a video featuring Rain Spencer and Noah Jupe. Yardbarker also describes this as a historic year for Gosling thanks to Project Hail Mary.
What happens next
The first tie-in, the colouring book, arrives on 23 March 2027, followed by the children’s stories on 20 April and the film on 28 May. For more on the film’s cast, see our report on Eva Mendes being rumoured for Ryan Gosling’s Star Wars film, and browse everything on Ryan Gosling or in our Movies section.
A separate report that Marvel is planning a “Midnight Sons” project after Gosling’s Ghost Rider could not be read in full, so we have not included it here.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Star Wars: Starfighter books released?
The colouring book is listed for 23 March 2027. The three Kade Auberon children’s books and Outer Rim Outcasts follow on 20 April 2027, according to The Direct.
Who does Ryan Gosling play in Starfighter?
He plays Kade Auberon, described in the official book synopses as a rogue with a mysterious past. The film is directed by Shawn Levy.
When does Star Wars: Starfighter open?
It is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend in the United States, starting on 28 May 2027. An Australian date was not given in the sources.
