Despite appearing in multiple blockbusters, Ryan Gosling has generally avoided major studio existing franchises since his “Young Hercules” years back in the 1990s.
He’s certainly tackled familiar IP, including Nicholas Sparks books (“The Notebook”), old TV shows (“The Fall Guy”) and dolls (“Barbie”), but 2017’s “Blade Runner 2049” remains the only sequel and only real entry in an ongoing franchise that he’s taken on to date.
That is, until he signed on for Shawn Levy’s “Star Wars: Starfighter”. Though a relatively standalone entry, this is a film that’s very much a part of the larger “Star Wars” universe and takes place after the events of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”.
Speaking with io9 while promoting “Project Hail Mary,” Gosling spoke of why he avoided major franchise projects he got offered in the past, and why this one was different:
“It was Shawn’s enthusiasm and his vision and the script, 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.”
Jonathan Tropper pens the film which stars Gosling, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, Flynn Gray, and Amy Adams.
“Star Wars: Starfighter” is currently slated for release on May 28th 2027.
