Contrary to his decision to avoid successful franchises, Ryan Gosling will soon star in Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone film in the George Lucas saga directed by Shawn Levy. As is well known, the actor has carefully avoided being associated with major successful franchises until now, but something convinced him to change course and make an exception. This does not mean that Gosling has not appeared in major blockbusters, as evidenced by his appearances in big-budget films such as Barbie, Blade Runner 2049, The Fall Guy, and the more recent Project Hail Mary.
Ryan Gosling and his conscious choice to avoid franchises
For example, despite years of rumors about his possible entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this has never happened, and the only exception the actor has made recently was for the Star Wars saga. But what is the reason for this choice? “I just avoided those things because they didn’t feel right. And I’m glad I did,” Gosling explained to io9, pointing out that, just like his upcoming film Project Hail Mary, the Star Wars film was also a project that was “worth waiting for. It’s like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he added.
What convinced him to accept Star Wars?
“It was Shawn’s enthusiasm, his vision, and the script,” Gosling said in the same interview, explaining why he decided to try his hand at making a film belonging to a highly successful saga for the first time. So far, very little is known about the plot of the film, titled Star Wars: Starfighter. Levy described the film as a “standalone” project set in “a time period that has not yet been explored” in the Star Wars canon. The director also hinted that the film will continue his trend of telling stories about fathers and sons (as he did in Real Steel, Night at the Museum, and The Adam Project).
When will the new film starring Ryan Gosling be released?
The actor’s next project, Project Hail Mary, will be released in theaters on March 19, 2026. According to many, it is one of the most anticipated film events of spring 2026 for science fiction fans, and this has been confirmed by early reviews. The film was directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the directing duo known for titles such as The Lego Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The screenplay, on the other hand, was written by Drew Goddard, who adapted Andy Weir’s science fiction novel, on which the film is based, for the screen.
