The film had a prolonged development; it was originally announced in 2010 with different casting before undergoing significant changes. Starbright will be released in the United States on February 27, 2026, by Ruby Max Entertainment.[1]
Plot
On a weathered farm at the edge of a fading small town, Aisling (Alexandra Dowling), a young orphan, lives with her grandparents, Bud (Ted Levine), and Teresa (Becky Ann Baker). She yearns for adventure and romance.
One night, under the shadow of an eclipse, the sky splits open and a star falls to earth landing in the field of Aisling's farm. She leaves the house to check the landing site. A tiny star rests in a crater. It sparks and glows brilliantly.
Raphael (John Rhys-Davies), not quite angel, not quite man, appears. He places the living star into a locket at Aisling’s heart. Entrusted with the star's fragile, living light, Aisling becomes his unlikely guardian.
Aisling and Raphael are forced to run from the farmhouse, pursued by three ruthless criminals, Peter (Gbenga Akinnagbe), Martin (Tom Carey), and Nick (John Westley), who witnessed the star fall and a spark that turned a lead pipe into gold.
During their escape, Aisling and Raphael are rescued by Joshua (Diego Boneta), a gallant stranger whose quiet strength helps them evade their pursuers. Together, the three embark on a perilous journey through a world where magic and life collide, discovering that the light's true power lies in awakening hope in humanity. From the darkness comes the light, and all things are possible…if you believe!
The project was initially announced in October 2010 as a "3D fantasy fairytale adventure." At that time, it was reported that Irish actress Sarah Bolger had been cast in the lead role, with James Earl Jones attached to play the role of the archangel Raphael.[2]
However, the film entered a lengthy period of development. When the film began production the cast had been changed, with Alexandra Dowling taking over the lead female role and John Rhys-Davies replacing James Earl Jones as Raphael.
Filming
Principal photography took place in various locations in the US, Canada and parts of Europe, utilizing both practical locations and visual effects to create the film's fantasy aesthetic. The cinematography was handled by Francesco Di Giacomo.
Release
Starbright will be released in theaters in the United States on February 27, 2026. The film is distributed by Ruby Max Entertainment.[3] Marketing for the film emphasized its "modern fable" qualities and the return of John Rhys-Davies to the high fantasy genre.
Reception
Box office
The film will begin its wide release theatrical run on February 27, 2026. Industry projections track the film for a moderate to good opening weekend.
Critical response
Early promotional material received mixed responses, with some critics praising the nostalgic 1980s fantasy tone. Collider described the trailer as "a heartfelt modern fable about courage, hope, and rediscovering the light within."[1]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
