Ryan Gosling on Why He Finally Said ‘Yes’ to Star Wars
For years, Ryan Gosling resisted the allure of major franchises, turning down opportunities to play iconic characters like Batman, Superman, and others. However, the Oscar-nominated actor is set to star in Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter, arriving in theaters May 28, 2027, marking a significant shift in his career choices.
A Change of Heart
Gosling, known for his roles in films like Barbie (2023) and Blade Runner 2049, has consistently avoided revisiting the same characters in sequels or extended universes. He explained to io9 that his previous reluctance stemmed from a feeling that the right project hadn’t come along. “It was Shawn’s enthusiasm and his vision and the script,” Gosling said. “And I just avoided these things because they never felt right. And I’m glad I did because I feel like, [similar to] a book like this, [it was] worth waiting for. And it is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Star Wars: Starfighter Details
Star Wars: Starfighter is a standalone story set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019). Deadline reports the film features a cast including Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, Flynn Gray, and Amy Adams. Gosling will play an older mentor character to Flynn Gray’s younger character. The film is being positioned as a new adventure, separate from the Skywalker saga, though its success could potentially lead to further installments.
Balancing Space Adventures
Gosling is currently starring in another space-themed film, Project Hail Mary, released on March 20, where he plays Ryland Grace, a teacher on a mission to save Earth. This dual commitment to space-based narratives highlights a potential new direction for the actor.
A Long-Awaited Franchise Role
While Gosling has taken on significant roles, he has never played the same character twice. Whether Star Wars: Starfighter will mark a change in this pattern remains to be seen, but the actor expressed enthusiasm for the project, describing it as “such a great story with great and original characters” and praising director Shawn Levy as “the perfect filmmaker” for the story. BBC News reported Gosling shared at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo that the script was “filled with so much heart and adventure.”