News

We’re just days away from the highly anticipated two-episode premiere of FX’s ‘Alien: Earth,’ arriving August 13th, and Disney+ is marking the occasion with an unmissable real-world event for fans.

From August 9th, the streaming platform will host a two-week exclusive installation at London’s Natural History Museum, giving visitors a rare chance to see an iconic specimen from the world of ‘Alien’ up close. Visitors to London’s Natural History Museum can get up close to the Xenomorph egg from FX’s highly anticipated upcoming series, ‘Alien: Earth.’ The display is situated opposite the entrance to the Museum’s blockbuster exhibition, Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth? where visitors can touch real pieces of the solar system. Visitors and fans alike can bear witness to the first stage in the life cycle of the Xenomorph in this special display.

Handled with great care and trepidation, the Xenomorph...

The Shudder streaming series The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs is currently deep into its seventh season – and now, for the first time, the show is set to receive a physical media release! Fans recently started noticing listings for The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs Blu-rays and DVDs showing up on sites like Amazon and Target – but there wasn’t accurate artwork, so it was a mystery what this 4 hour and 55 minute release would be. Now, the proper artwork has been unveiled, revealing that this is a double feature of the Joe Lynch-directed films Suitable Flesh and Mayhem! This double feature is set to be released on October 14th… and it appears to be limited quantity, because Amazon is currently sold out of the Blu-ray edition. Hopefully they’ll be restocking soon.

On The Last Drive-In, the world’s foremost drive-in movie critic hosts eclectic horror movies,...

Dave Bautista is in final negotiations to join the cast of Amazon MGM’s hotly anticipated remake of the 1980s cult classic ‘Highlander,’ sources confirm. The Guardians of the Galaxy and Dune star is set to take on the role of the immortal barbarian known as The Kurgan — the film’s main antagonist — in the action-fantasy epic directed by Chad Stahelski (John Wick).

Bautista will join previously announced leads Henry Cavill, who will portray Connor MacLeod, and Russell Crowe as Ramirez, with Industry star Marisa Abela also taking a prominent role. The feature hails from Amazon MGM’s United Artists banner and is slated for a theatrical release.

Principal photography is scheduled to kick off at the end of September, with production spanning locations in the UK and Hong Kong.

Also in news – Matt Smith joins cast of Shawn Levy’s ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’

In the new adaptation, Bautista’s...

Xavier García for Sony Pictures Entertainment

The premiere of Caught Stealing in Puerto Rico last night stirred up excitement, raising anticipation for the thriller’s release. Austin Butler, in the intense lead role, was joined by director Darren Aronofsky and global music icon Bad Bunny for an unforgettable evening.

Fans were treated to an exclusive sneak peek of Caught Stealing, confirming that the film will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

Xavier García for Sony Pictures Entertainment What’s Caught Stealing about?

Caught Stealing follows Hank Thompson (Austin Butler), a former high school baseball star whose life is comfortable but predictable. He works as a bartender, enjoys a relationship with his girlfriend (Zoë Kravitz), and follows his favorite baseball team. But everything changes when his punk-rock neighbor, Russ (Matt Smith), asks him to watch his cat for a few days. What seems like a simple favor turns into a dangerous encounter with gangsters,...

Bad Bunny is currently in the middle of his Puerto Rico residency and he was able to promote his upcoming movie Caught Stealing in his hometown!

The 31-year-old entertainer was joined by co-star Austin Butler and director Darren Aronofsky at a screening of the movie on Thursday (August 7) in Puerto Rico.

Bad Bunny, who stripped down for a Calvin Klein campaign earlier this year, gave fans a peak at his underwear during the event.

Here’s the synopsis for Caught Stealing: Hank Thompson (Butler) was a high-school baseball phenom who can’t play anymore, but everything else is going okay. He’s got a great girl (Zoë Kravitz), tends bar at a New York dive, and his favorite team is making an underdog run at the pennant. When his punk-rock neighbor Russ (Matt Smith) asks him to take care of his cat for a few days, Hank suddenly finds...

At Star Wars Celebration in 2023, Lucasfilm revealed its plans for a new Star Wars movie revolving around Daisy Ridley's Rey Skywalker. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is still attached to direct the movie, which has been through multiple writers since it was first announced.

Now, with The Adjustment Bureau and The Bourne Ultimatum's George Nolfi hard at work on the latest draft, scooper Daniel Richtman (via SFFGazette.com) has shared some new insights into Lucasfilm's post-The Rise of Skywalker plans.

He explains that it will be similar to the "Mandoverse," with multiple stories told in that period. The first of those is expected to be Daily Ridley's New Jedi Order, an indication that Star Wars: Starfighter may not be part of this slate.

That's been widely reported to take place 5 years after Episode IX, with the Rey-led movie set 15 years later. There may be some loose threads between them, but...

A couple of days ago, the news broke that Matt Smith had been cast in a villainous role in Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter. The actor was eyed to play a young Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, prompting many fans to wonder whether Darth Sidious might return...again.

Fortunately, Lucasfilm isn't heading in that direction and, according to Jeff Sneider's latest newsletter (via SFFGazette.com), Smith's character will be neither a Sith nor a Dark Side Force user. Instead, he'll have a military background.

"I'm told that the Force won’t be with Smith, who is playing some kind of military general in the film, which takes place five years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker," the insider writes.

Blade star Mia Goth is also expected to play one of the movie's villains, and it wouldn't be...

Matt Smithis taking on his hardest role yet in Darren Aronofsky's Caught Stealing, as he tries to pull off a mohawk and make it look cool. And we have an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the new movie starring Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Regina King, and Bad Bunny. Smith plays Russ, the neighbor to Hank Thompson (Butler), who asks him to take care of his cat. But it doesn't go well, and instead of simply doing a favor for his neighbor, Hank finds himself dealing with a "motley crew of threatening gangsters." All because of Russ.

In our exclusive sneak peek, we get to see a bit more of Russ' look in the show, including Smith talking about his first impression with the screenplay and working with Aronofsky. "My first take when I was reading this film was 'Wow Darren Aronofsky's going to direct this film,'" Smith says with his mohawk in place.

You may have heard that actor Matt Smith has recently been cast as a villain in Star Wars: Starfighter, starring opposite Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth. Starfighter will be released on May 28, 2027. This marks the second theatrical release after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, following director Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is planned for May 22, 2026.

Smith is no stranger to playing the villain, and with a multitude of alien races in the Star Wars universe, it’s hard to know how he'll show up as he faces off against Gosling. So, who is Matt Smith? Here are some of the actor's most well-known roles, pulled from his IMDb page.

Doctor Who

In the long-running BBC science fiction series, a relatively unknown Smith landed the coveted title role as the Eleventh Doctor after David Tennant's exit from the show in 2010. His primary run as Doctor Who spanned Seasons 5, 6, and 7.

The Crown

In 2018, Smith earned his first Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Prince Philip in the Netflix series "The Crown."

House of the Dragon

Smith is most recently known for embodying the ruthless Prince Daemon Targaryen on HBO’s "Game of Thrones" spin-off "House of the Dragon." He is slated to return for Season 3 of the series, which is currently in production.

Last Night in Soho

Director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) cast Smith in his psychological horror film Last Night in Soho, also starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie.

Morbius

As part of Sony's extended Spider-Man universe, Smith took another villain role in 2022's Morbius, playing opposite Jared Leto.

See Matt Smith's entire filmography on IMDb...

A recent purported leak from Daniel Richtman has sparked renewed interest and skepticism among fans regarding the future of the Star Wars franchise. According to the leak, Lucasfilm is planning an entirely new era titled the "New Jedi Order," set approximately 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. According to various reports, this era – if the rumors are to be believed – will be structured similarly to the Mandoverse, with multiple interconnected stories leading to a culminating event that brings back legacy characters.

The first film in this new era is reportedly the long-awaited Rey-centric movie, with Daisy Ridley reprising her role as the titular character. Expected to be directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the movie is likely to focus on Rey's journey to rebuild the Jedi Order. However, even Ridley herself has said she doesn’t know when cameras will start rolling.

Adding to the complexity, another upcoming Star Wars film,...

Rumor has it that there's a new villain being cast in the next standalone entry in the Star Wars universe. Star Wars: Starfighter has a scheduled release date of May 28, 2027. The upcoming movie stars Ryan Gosling and is directed by Shawn Levy. The film takes place five to six years after The Rise of Skywalker and now looks to be adding a new villain to the mix.

A New Star Wars Adventure

Director Shawn Levy directed the recently heralded Deadpool & Wolverine and the lesser known but no less entertaining The Adam Project. Writer Jonathan Tropper (who also worked on The Adam Project) joins him at the helm of Star Wars: Starfighter.

“We’re fans too,” Levy said to an exuberant crowd at the Star Wars Celebration. “There’s obviously a relationship between these stories and the audience, but we’ve spent our lives in that audience. We know how meaningful it is.

Darren Aronofsky’s crime caper Caught Stealing is set to reach theatres on August 29th, with Francis Lawrence’s intense Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk following on September 12th and Scott Derrickson’s sequel to his Joe Hill adaptation The Black Phone (a sequel simply titled Black Phone 2) dropping on October 17th – and today, we have learned that the Motion Picture Association ratings board has given all three of these movies R ratings!

Directed by Aronofsky from a screenplay by Charlie Huston, who is also the author of the book that the movie is based on, Caught Stealing has the following synopsis: Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) was a high-school baseball phenom who can’t play anymore, but everything else is going okay. He’s got a great girl (Zoë Kravitz), tends bar at a New York dive, and his favorite team is making an underdog run at the pennant.

Matt Smith is finally making the jump to hyperspace. After years of teasing (and that “maybe he was Palpatine’s clone” rumour in The Rise of Skywalker), the Doctor Who and House of the Dragon star is officially joining the Star Wars galaxy. He’ll play one of the villains in Star Wars: Starfighter, the upcoming standalone film from Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy. And no, we still don’t know if he’ll have a mohawk in this one, too. But we kind of hope so. Smith stars opposite Ryan Gosling, who’s leading the film as a mysterious new character tasked with protecting “a young charge from evil pursuers,” according to THR. So, you know, pretty standard day in the Star Wars universe. Mia Goth (Pearl) also plays a villain, bringing that otherworldly voice and unsettling presence to a galaxy already full of terrifying space wizards. At one point,...

Matt Smith has already explored the cosmos as a Time Lord in Doctor Who and fought in wars on behalf of House Targaryen in the Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon. Oh, and he was a vampire in Morbius.

Now, Deadline (via SFFGazette.com) has confirmed that the British actor is heading to a Galaxy Far, Far Away after joining the cast of Star Wars: Starfighter, the upcoming movie from Deadpool & Wolverine and Night at the Museum director Shawn Levy. Ryan Gosling will lead the cast, while Mia Goth (X) is also attached to star.

We don't have specific character details, but the trade has learned that Smith is playing one of the movie's villains.

The report explains, "Casting has been gearing up on the project over the past couple of weeks, with Levy meeting with a number of actors for this key role; sources say execs...

The ‘House of the Dragon’ and ‘Doctor Who’ star, Matt Smith, has officially joined the cast of ‘Star Wars: Starfighter,’ the upcoming standalone feature from director Shawn Levy for Lucasfilm.

Sources close to the actor confirm that Smith will portray a key villain in the film, taking on a major role opposite previously announced stars Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth.

‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ is set to begin filming this fall, with a theatrical release date scheduled for May 28, 2027.

Also in news – ‘Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight to pen Denis Villeneuve’s James Bond Movie

Scripted by Jonathan Tropper, the new instalment in the ‘Star Wars’ franchise is set approximately five years after the events of ‘Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker,’ and will introduce a slate of new characters to the beloved universe. While specific plot details remain under wraps, the film is said to expand the mythology beyond the Skywalker saga,...

Production on "Star Wars: Starfighter" is set to begin this fall. "Deadpool & Wolverine" director Shawn Levy will direct the film from a script written by Jonathan Tropper. Academy Award-nominee Ryan Gosling will headline the film, with Mia Goth also set to star. This film will be set five years after the events of "The Rise of Skywalker," and will be the next film in Lucasfilm's marquee franchise following Jon Favreau's "The Mandalorian and Grogu," which will hit theaters on May 22, 2026.

As principal photography nears, more actors are being cast in what appears to be a much-needed new direction for big-screen "Star Wars" adventures, given that the franchise has mainly been a television fixture thanks to its several shows on Disney+. Now, Emmy-nominated actor Matt Smith has joined the cast of "Starfighter," and fascinatingly enough, he was originally cast in the Sequel Trilogy, but his role was ultimately axed.

Matt Smith joins the Star Wars universe as a villain in ‘Starfighter’, starring alongside Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth.

Lucasfilm has confirmed one of the most anticipated castings among fans of the saga: Matt Smith will be part of the main cast of ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’, playing one of the film’s villains. This ambitious production, directed by Shawn Levy and set for release on 28 May 2027, will also feature Ryan Gosling in the lead role and Mia Goth in another antagonistic part.

Set five years after the events of ‘The Rise of Skywalker’, the film is positioned as a standalone story within the galactic universe, introducing a completely new narrative approach. The script, penned by Jonathan Tropper, revolves around a starfighter pilot whose mission brings him face-to-face with powerful dark forces. According to sources close to the production, Gosling will portray the titular pilot, while Smith and Goth form a...

Ryan Gosling’s upcoming Star Wars movie added a new cast member this week, with House of the Dragon star Matt Smith being cast in a key role. In August 2025, Deadline reported that Smith, known for playing Daemon Targaryen in the HBO series, would join the Gosling-led movie.

Directed by Shawn Levy, the movie, titled Starfighter, had previously confirmed that Mia Goth would play a villain. As a result, Smith is now the third confirmed cast member for the movie, which is reportedly expected to start filming in the fall of 2025. Here is what Smith’s casting means for Starfighter and who he might be playing.

What Matt Smith’s Casting Means For Ryan Gosling’s Star Wars Movie Matt Smith in House of the Dragon (Credits: HBO).

Actor Matt Smith rose to prominence with his role as the Eleventh Doctor in the popular sci-fi series Doctor Who. He also...

Matt Smith is finally heading to a galaxy far, far away. According to Deadline, the Doctor Who and The Crown star has been cast as the main villain in the upcoming Star Wars movie Starfighter. He will be joining Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth in the new film.

This marks Smith’s second time being connected to the Star Wars universe. He was once attached to The Rise of Skywalker but never made it into the final film. Back in 2021, Smith explained on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that “We were close to being in it, but it never quite happened. Eventually, the part became obsolete and they didn’t need it. So, I never got to be in Star Wars.”

He didn’t reveal exactly who he was supposed to play, but many fans speculated it was a major role tied to Emperor Palpatine.

Remember those reports that Matt...

Matt Smith is officially joining the Star Wars galaxy, this time for real. According to Deadline, the Doctor Who star has been cast as the main villain in Star Wars: Starfighter, the upcoming film from director Shawn Levy. He’ll star alongside Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth.

This isn’t Smith’s first brush with the franchise. Back when The Rise of Skywalker was in development, he was attached to a mystery role. However, that never came to be. “We were close to being in it, but it never quite happened,” Smith told the Happy Sad Confused podcast in 2021.

Remember those reports that Matt Smith was going to be in The Rise Of Skywalker? He told me his role was a big deal, representing “a big shift in the history of the [Star Wars] franchise.”

Who Was He Going To Play?!

Full video chat at https://t.co/e84WokCDhq pic.twitter.

Directed by Deadpool & Wolverine's Shawn Levy, the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter currently finds Ryan Gosling in the lead, with Pearl star Mia Goth also on board. Now, the Star Warsspin-off has found the perfect actor, a sci-fi icon and Marvel star, to play the movie's villain.

Somehow, Palpatine returned, or at least Matt Smith is returning to Star Wars after having almost appeared in The Rise of Skywalker. Smith is best known for playing the Eleventh Doctor on the hit sci-fi series Doctor Who from 2010 to 2013. Smith currently stars as Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragon and will next be seen in Darren Aronofsky's Caught Stealing.

Deadline reports that Matt Smith has signed on to play the villain in Star Wars: Starfighter. No details have been given about Smith's role or the plot of Star Wars: Starfighter, but the film is set for release on May 28, 2027, in time for Star Wars' 50th anniversary.

Matt Smith will play the villain in Star Wars: Starfighter.The House of the Dragon star has signed up to appear alongside Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth in the upcoming film after director Shawn Levy met with a number of actors about the key role in the movie, and executives opted for the former Doctor Who lead, Deadline reports.Exact details on Matt's role in the film are being kept vague, but sources told the outlet it will be one of the villains.Star Wars: Starfighter - which will begin shooting later this year ahead of a May 2027 release - will act as a standalone movie within the space opera franchise and will be set five years after 2019's The Rise of Skywalker,Shawn, 56, recently teased the film will be a whole "new adventure" for fans. He said: “There are many rumours, some true, some not. … This is not a prequel,...

Matt Smith will play the villain in Star Wars: Starfighter.The House of the Dragon star has signed up to appear alongside Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth in the upcoming film after director Shawn Levy met with a number of actors about the key role in the movie, and executives opted for the former Doctor Who lead, Deadline reports.Exact details on Matt's role in the film are being kept vague, but sources told the outlet it will be one of the villains.Star Wars: Starfighter - which will begin shooting later this year ahead of a May 2027 release - will act as a standalone movie within the space opera franchise and will be set five years after 2019's The Rise of Skywalker,Shawn, 56, recently teased the film will be a whole "new adventure" for fans. He said: “There are many rumours, some true, some not. … This is not a prequel,...

Actor Matt Smith is reportedly entering the Star Wars universe, joining the cast of Shawn Levy’s upcoming film, “Star Wars: Starfighter.” Smith, best known for his roles in “House of the Dragon” and “Doctor Who,” will portray a key villain in the highly anticipated movie scheduled for release on May 28, 2027.

Smith was previously considered for a role in 2019’s “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” which ultimately did not materialize. In a 2018 report, Smith was rumored to play a younger version of Emperor Palpatine, a character later reprised by original actor Ian McDiarmid. Smith confirmed during an appearance on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast with Josh Horowitz that the earlier role was a significant, transformative part that unfortunately “never got quite over the line.”

Casting Continues for ‘Starfighter’

Lucasfilm and director Shawn Levy have been actively casting for additional villain roles, including a female antagonist initially linked to actress Mikey Madison.

Matt Smith is no stranger to big-budget, blockbuster franchise fare. From Doctor Who and Terminator to Game of Thrones and Marvel, the actor has done his fair share of work in the realm of tentpole material, all while distinctly retaining his unique wildcard quality.

Smith is a highly versatile actor who brings a great deal of range to his work, so whether he is provocatively dancing in a board room opposite Jared Leto’s ill-fated Dr. Michael Morbius or rocking up in the upcoming Caught Stealing with a full-blown mohawk, audiences can expect a certain degree of verve from him.

This is why it's so exciting to hear the news, reported by Deadline today: Smith has signed on to play a villainous role opposite Ryan Gosling in the upcoming film Star Wars: Starfighter.

"House Of The Dragon" Season 2 UK Premiere – Arrivals | Samir Hussein/GettyImages

Earlier this year, it was revealed...

The Ryan Gosling-led Star Wars: Starfighterhas found its villain. The film, from Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy, isn’t set to be released until December 2027, but a former Doctor Who star has reportedly been cast in a key role.

Per Deadline, sources have revealed that Matt Smith, who memorably played the Eleventh Doctor in Doctor Who from 2010 to 2013, has been cast as one of the villains in Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Starfighter. Smith is also known for playing Prince Philip in Netflix’s The Crown, a role for which he was nominated for an Emmy in 2018. Most recently, Smith was seen as Prince Daemon Targaryen in HBO’s Game of Thrones spinoff, House of the Dragon. Representatives for Lucasfilm and Smith could not be reached for comment on the casting.

Sources told Deadline that casting on Star Wars: Starfighter has shifted into a higher gear over the past weeks,...

Matt Smith is about to trade a dragon for a Starfighter. The House of the Dragon star has reportedly signed on to play a villain in the upcoming Star Wars feature film, which will star Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth, be helmed by Shawn Levy, and which had its coming-out party at Star Wars Celebration in April 2025.

Here's everything we know so far about Star Wars: Starfighter.

What's the story?

The are scant details about the plot, other than it is a one-off installment that involves Ryan Gosling's character and his young companion being pursued by villainous forces. Levy says that Starfighter will cover new territory in franchise storytelling and won't feature any of the major characters from prior releases. “This is a standalone. It’s not a prequel, not sequel. It’s a new adventure. It’s set in a period of time that we haven’t seen explored yet,...

Matt Smith's Infinity Gauntlet of nerdy IP is about to add another stone — and this one's coming from a galaxy far, far away. Yes, having made bow ties cool with his stint as Doctor Who's Eleventh Doctor, donned the blonde as Daemon Targaryen in House Of The Dragon, thrown some shapes as bloodsucker Milo in Spumc's Morbius, and been a T-5000 in Terminator Genisys, Smith is getting ready to make the jump to lightspeed for Shawn Levy's upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter. Per Deadline's reporting, Smith has landed a villainous role opposite Ryan Gosling's heroic lead in the Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker's first Star Wars feature.

As we learned at this year's Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Starfighter — described specifically and repeatedly by Levy as "a standalone adventure with all-new characters" — is the first Star Wars film set after the events of The Rise Of Skywalker, with...

Matt Smith is the latest star to join the cast of the upcoming Star Wars spinoff movie led by Ryan Gosling!

Star Wars: Starfighter will take place five years after the events in Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker, but details on the plot are still not known as of this time.

Deadline reports that Matt will be playing the villain role.

Keep reading to find out more…

Also starring alongside Ryan will be Mia Goth. Another famous star reportedly turned down that role.

The standalone adventure will go into production in Fall 2025 and will be released in theaters on May 28, 2027.

Next up for Matt is the release of his movie Caught Stealing (watch the trailer now!) and he will begin work on the third season of House of the Dragon next year.

Matt Smith is headed to a galaxy far, far away.

The “House of the Dragon” star has joined the cast of Shawn Levy’s “Star Wars: Starfighter” for Lucasfilm, sources close to the actor confirm. He will appear in a villain role, opposite previously announced cast members Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth. Lucasfilm could not be reached for comment.

This isn’t Smith’s first brush with the “Star Wars” franchise. The “Doctor Who” alum was previously cast in “The Rise of Skywalker,” but ultimately didn’t appear in the film. “We were close to being in it, but it never quite happened. I think the thing they were thinking of before. Eventually, the part became obsolete and they didn’t need it. So, I never got to be in ‘Star Wars,'” he told the Happy Sad Confused podcast in 2021. He declined to elaborate on the role he would...

Actor Matt Smith is heading to the galaxy far, far away, joining director Shawn Levy’s standalone feature Star Wars: Starfighter as one of the film’s chief antagonists opposite lead star Ryan Gosling.

Sources close to the production state that Smith’s character will partner—though not necessarily align—with the previously announced villain role played by Mia Goth, giving Gosling’s unnamed hero a “duo of pursuers.” Script duties fall to Jonathan Tropper, while Lucasfilm has fixed a theatrical launch date of May 28 2027, positioning the project as the next big-screen chapter after The Mandalorian & Grogu lands in 2026.

Levy, speaking to People in April, described pairing Gosling’s “uniquely cool ethos” with Star Wars as “a recipe that makes the galaxy better and cooler,” adding that the story sits a few years after the Battle of Exegol yet is “neither prequel nor sequel.” Gosling echoed that enthusiasm at Star Wars Celebration Japan,...

“Doctor Who” alum Matt Smith is set to join the galaxy far, far away in “Star Wars: Starfighter,” starring Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth and hitting theaters Memorial Day Weekend 2027.

Details are light on Smith’s role and the plot of the film, which will be directed by Shawn Levy (“Deadpool & Wolverine”) from a script by Jonathan Tropper. But Smith is reported to play a villain in the film, which will be set five years after the events of Disney/Lucasfilm’s sequel trilogy, which ended with “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” in 2019.

Since that film, Disney has not released a “Star Wars” movie in theaters, opting for a series of Disney+ shows that have ranged in reception from the critically acclaimed “Andor” to the fan-maligned “The Acolyte.” The first of those streaming series, “The Mandalorian,” will get a theatrical film follow-up with “The Mandalorian & Grogu” in...

Matt Smith is confirmed to be joining Ryan Gosling in the upcoming movie, Star Wars: Starfighter. Excitement is building for Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter, an upcoming Star Wars movie set five years after the sequel trilogy. It's due to start production later this year, with Ryan Gosling and Mia Goth in starring roles.

Deadline has revealed that Matt Smith, of Doctor Who and House of the Dragon fame, is joining the movie in a villain role. He will presumably be playing alongside horror star Mia Goth, who has already been confirmed as the movie's second villain. They'll be going up against Gosling, who is presumably the titular "starfighter" pilot.

Matt Smith Has Been Trying To Get Into Star Wars For Years

Matt Smith has become one of Hollywood's hottest properties in the years since he left Doctor Who, his reputation growing due to his electrifying performance in House of the Dragon.

Matt Smith is finally getting his turn in the Star Wars galaxy.

The House of the Dragon star, who at one point was eyed to appear in 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, has been tapped to join Shawn Levy’s Star War: Starfighter, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Lucasfilm could not be reached for comment.

This is one of multiple villain roles, according to sources, with Levy still looking to cast a female antagonist that at one point had Mikey Madison eyed for the part. Ryan Gosling stars in Starfighter, which has a release date of May 28, 2027.

In 2018, Smith was reported to be joining the ninth Star Wars movie, but that role did not come to fruition. Journalist Josh Horowitz asked Smith on the Happy Sad Confused podcast about rumors the role was for young Palpatine, with Smith declining to comment. (Original actor Ian McDiarmid ended up returning as Palpatine.

Star Wars: Starfighteris shaping up to be something pretty incredible. The Ryan Gosling-led movie from director Shawn Levy and writer Jonathan Tropper just got an exciting update: It will have Doctor Who star Matt Smithas the main villain of the film. This is exciting for fans who have been waiting for Smith to show up in the franchise after he was originally supposed to pop up in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerbut was ultimately cut from the film. There is no word yet on who exactly he'll play, just that he was cast as the film's villain.

This is now the fourth time in franchise history that Smith has taken on a villain role after his defining role as the Eleventh Doctor on Doctor Who. He went on to star as Daemon Targaryen in House of the Dragonas part of the Game of Thrones franchise, he was Milo in Morbius,...

Deadline reports that Matt Smith has joined the cast of Star Wars: Starfighter, with the actor set to play one of the villain roles in the movie. Ryan Gosling is already attached to star in the film, with Mia Goth also on board.

The film, which will be directed by Shawn Levy from a script by Jonathan Tropper, is a new standalone adventure set five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. It will feature all-new characters and explore a period of time that has not yet been explored on screen. Production is expected to kick off this fall. The film will hit theaters on May 28, 2027.

Related Sony releases a new poster for Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing

You may recall that Matt Smith was supposed to appear in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. He joined the cast in what was supposed to be a “key role,...

Exclusive: After fighting battles for House Targaryen, Matt Smith is ready to take his next fight to a galaxy far, far, away. Sources tell Deadline that the House of the Dragon star is on board to join Ryan Gosling in Lucasfilm’s Star Wars: Starfighter. Mia Goth is also on board, with Shawn Levy directing the pic. Jonathan Tropper penned the script.

Lucasfilm and reps for Smith could not be reached for comment.

The film will shoot this fall and is set to bow on May 28, 2027. While exact details are vague on who Smith will be playing, sources say it will be one of the villain roles. Casting has been gearing up on the project over the past couple of weeks, with Levy meeting with a number of actors for this key role; sources say execs made the decision to go with Smith to play the next great villain in the Star Wars universe.

While House of the Dragon Season 3 might not be the most eagerly anticipated season of the Game of Thrones franchise ever. It is still well and truly anticipated as the Dance of Dragons finally shifts into full gear. Many viewers of the show's second season had anticipated far more action than they eventually got during its sophomore run. Besides the Battle of Rook's Rest, House of the Dragon Season 2 did not feature any other large-scale conflicts, with the Battle of the Burning Mill taking place off-screen. Showrunner Ryan Condal has teased the unprecedented size of the production scale for Season 3 in a new update.

Season 2 ended with the Greens and the Blacks poised to clash at the Battle of the Gullet. Many viewers had expected that the naval conflict would close out the sophomore season, but that didn't materialize. Condal had previously promised that four major events would be covered in the new season,...

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The latest Harry Potter audiobook adaptation has a confirmed cast and release date. The new edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, narrated by Cush Jumbo, will be released on Nov. 4, 2025. The books, which are available for preorder now, are published by Pottermore Publishing and Audible Studios, and will be available on Audible.

The star-studded cast will include Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore, Matthew Macfadyen as Voldemort,...

At a time when the future of Doctor Who remains so uncertain, it is easy to look back through time at the timey-wimey genius to have come before. In the modern era, the likes of Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker, and, most recently, Ncuti Gatwa, have held the key to the Tardis and endeared themselves to millions of fans. However, Doctor Who would be nothing without its companions, with one of the most underrated in the modern era hinting at how a return could be on the cards.

During a recent episode of the podcast Making a Scene, Russell T. Davies was in conversation with comedian David Walliams and former companion Matt Lucas, who played Nardole on the series, and suggested any potential return was doomed to fail, saying, "You're kind of doomed. I worry about Nardole being left there because the Cybermen are on their way.

"What did you get me into?!" "Welcome to Narnia." Sony Pictures has debuted a new "inside look" promo featurette for the movie Caught Stealing, which is Darren Aronofsky's 1990s NYC crime comedy out in theaters in a few weeks. We've already seen the official trailer, now they're starting the final marketing blitz before this opens in theaters soon. "He was just supposed to watch the cat. Now he's running for his f**king life." Burned-out ex-baseball player Hank Thompson unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of 90s New York, forced to navigate an underworld he never imagined. When his punk-rock neighbor Russ asks him to take care of his cat, Hank finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters. They all want a piece of him; but he has no idea why. Starring Austin Butler as Hank,...

HBO announced that filming is officially underway on the third season of House of the Dragon back in April, and we now have some fairly late casting news that fans of George R.R. Martin's Fire and Blood have been eagerly anticipating.

Deadline reports that Annie Shapero will play Alysanne Blackwood, aka Black Aly, in season 3. In the source material, Blackwood is a mighty warrior who ends up siding with Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) in the Dance of the Dragons before marrying Lord Cregan Stark (Tom Taylor.)

In the season 2 finale, Rhaenyra and Daemon (Matt Smith) put their differences aside and joined forces as they prepared to launch a full-scale attack on King's Landing.

We'll be meeting quite a few new faces in season 3, with James Norton (Happy Valley) previously joining the cast as Ormund Hightower, along with Tommy Flanagan as Ser Roderick Dustin, aka "Roddy the Ruin," and...

Idles debuted a new single, “Rabbit Run,” which was written for Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming film Caught Stealing.

The song is one of four original tracks the rock band contributed to the movie’s soundtrack and they also recorded the full film score composed by Rob Simonsen. The soundtrack, out Aug. 29 via Protozoa/Partisan Records, additionally features a cover of the Junior Marvin’s “Police and Thieves,” which was previously covered by The Clash on their 1977 self-titled debut LP.

“Rabbit Run” was inspired by the “gritty energy of the 1990s...

House of the DragonSeason 3 has finally cast one of the "most fierce" warriors from George R. R. Martin's best-selling work. As filming for the highly-anticipated third season of the Game of Thrones prequel continues, it has now been revealed who will be playing a legendary character from the saga.

Deadline reports that Annie Shapero (Red Skies) has been cast as Alysanne Blackwood in House of the Dragon Season 3. She will not be a series regular, but is expected to appear in five episodes of the upcoming season. The character plays a key role in Fire & Blood, so fans of the book have been waiting for the casting for quite some time. Details remain scarce on the upcoming season, but Shapero will make her debut as Alysanne when House of the Dragon returns to HBO sometime in 2026.

Alysanne "Black Aly" Blackwood is an important character from Fire & Blood, and could...

There’s been a lot of talk lately about who will play one of George R.R. Martin’s toughest female fighters in House of the Dragon Season 3. Now, we can finally share the news: Australian-British actor Annie Shapero has been cast as Alysanne Blackwood. Filming for the new season began a few weeks ago in the UK.

Alysanne Blackwood, often called Black Aly, is an important character in Martin’s Fire & Blood book. She is known as a fearless warrior who supports Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, played by Emma D’Arcy on the show, during the brutal civil war. Later, she marries Lord Cregan Stark, a role played by Tom Taylor.

This marriage makes her a legendary figure in the history of House Stark, and her story will be featured in the upcoming season.

While Alysanne is not a main character, sources say she will appear in five out of the eight...

Idles have shared a new song, “Rabbit Run,” one of four original tracks the band contributed to the soundtrack for director Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming film, Caught Stealing. Stream it below.

According to a press release, “Rabbit Run” mirrors “the film’s central theme of confronting fear head-on.” Idles also recorded the full score for Caught Stealing, which was composed by Rob Simonsen. The soundtrack will be available digitally on August 29th via Protozoa, with a vinyl pre-order launching the same day.

Get Idles Tickets Here

“This has been a huge opportunity for us that seemingly came about after a chance meeting backstage at Fallon when we both happened to be guests on the same day,” Idles singer Joe Talbot said in a press statement. “But in hindsight, I realize that Darren is one of my favorite directors and his films have in some ways made me who I am as an artist.

Idles have shared a new song, “Rabbit Run,” one of four original tracks the band contributed to the soundtrack for director Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming film, Caught Stealing. Stream it below.

According to a press release, “Rabbit Run” mirrors “the film’s central theme of confronting fear head-on.” Idles also recorded the full score for Caught Stealing, which was composed by Rob Simonsen. The soundtrack will be available digitally on August 29th via Protozoa, with a vinyl pre-order launching the same day.

Get Idles Tickets Here

“This has been a huge opportunity for us that seemingly came about after a chance meeting backstage at Fallon when we both happened to be guests on the same day,” Idles singer Joe Talbot said in a press statement. “But in hindsight, I realize that Darren is one of my favorite directors and his films have in some ways made me who I am as an artist.

Exclusive: Internet speculation has been rife in recent weeks over who will star as one of George R.R. Martin’s most fierce female fighters in the upcoming House of the Dragon Season 3.

We can reveal that Australian-British actor Annie Shapero is playing Alysanne Blackwood in the next season, which started shooting several weeks back in the UK.

Known as Black Aly, Blackwood plays a key role in Martin’s Fire and Blood novel. The fearless warrior is Lord Benjicot Blackwood’s aunt and fights for Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) in the Dance of the Dragons before marrying Lord Cregan Stark, who is played by Tom Taylor. She becomes a legendary figure in House Stark lore and her storyline looks likely to be told in House of the Dragon Season 3.

Blackwood is not a series regular but we are told she will appear in five of the eight episodes...

Praise Eywa! The new issue of Empire is nearly here, bringing a major dispatch from Pandora. Or, more accurately, James Cameron’s headquarters, where Avatar: Fire And Ash is entering its final stages. You can read all about the next chapter in the saga in the September 2025 issue – pre-order yours here – which hits shelves on Thursday 31 July.

For now, here’s a sneak peek inside.

Avatar: Fire And Ash

Ready for another all-out Na’vi epic? Empire joins James Cameron at Avatar HQ for two full days, watching him as he brings his next sci-fi behemoth into being. Plus, we speak to Jake Sully himself, Sam Worthington, and incoming villain Varang, Oona Chaplin, as the Avatar story gets ready to explore.

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues

Turn it up to 11: Spinal Tap are back in a long-awaited sequel mockumentary. Empire interviews the full band – David St. Hubbins, Derek Smalls,...

In his post-Doctor Who years, Matt Smith has been unafraid to take on a vast array of roles, from Patrick Bateman on stage, to bloodthirsty Targaryen princes – but his look in Caught Stealing might be his most dramatic transformation. The actor is teaming up with Darren Aronofsky for his new crime thriller, in which Austin Butler’s Hank gets pulled into the criminal underbelly of ‘90s New York – coming into contact with Smith’s Russ, a full-on, mohawked punk. It’s a wild change of look for Smith, who shaved his own hair to pull off Russ’s sky-scraping ‘do.

But if Russ looks like a formidable figure, there’s a sweet soul under that hardened exterior. Exploring the character, Smith took on some literary inspiration. “I [reckoned that Russ had] moved to New York and learned all of these John Cooper Clarke poems because he’s a punk, but he’s quite a sensitive punk,...