Ryan Gosling says big franchises 'never felt right' before joining new 'Star Wars' film

Gosling explains why his upcoming Star Wars project finally changed his mind

Ryan Gosling is opening up about why he long avoided blockbuster franchises, and why his upcoming turn in the Star Wars universe marks a rare exception. In a new interview, the actor admitted that major studio franchises “never felt right” for him in the past, despite their global appeal and box-office power.

Gosling explained that while he has always been drawn to compelling stories and character-driven work, large franchise films didn’t typically align with his creative instincts.

However, that changed when he was approached for Star Wars: Starfighter, an upcoming standalone entry in the iconic sci-fi saga. According to Gosling, the project’s originality and emotional depth ultimately convinced him to take the leap into the blockbuster space.

The film, directed by Shawn Levy, is set roughly five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and introduces an entirely new storyline and characters rather than continuing the main Skywalker saga. Gosling leads the cast in the new chapter, which is expected to explore a previously unseen era in the galaxy.

Gosling’s decision to join the franchise marks a significant shift in his career, as he has largely built his reputation on original films and auteur-driven projects. With Starfighter slated for a 2027 release, the actor now steps into one of the most beloved cinematic universes in history, on his own terms.