Ryan Gosling is a great actor and I think his Star Wars casting makes sense

Ryan Gosling has been roped into the Star Wars franchise, and I think it makes sense for a few reasons. Before diving into this topic further, please know that this opinion comes from someone who has not seen any Star Wars project except Andor, which was recommended as a show that wouldn’t require a deep dive into the SW lore, and was created by Tony Gilroy. Thankfully, it pays off as a phenomenal piece of television that offers a relevant political subtext. All of this is to note that you should take anything I say with a pinch of salt.

Now that this is clear, let’s talk about Ryan Gosling’s casting. After the announcement, the internet was filled with hot takes. That is hardly surprising considering the amount of fanfare around this universe. Even Gosling and director Shawn Levy made a point of mentioning how they love these fans and that they are also a part of them. That may have given hope to the fans about their collaboration. However, that is never going to be the case with a fan base such as this, where even the slightest choice will lead to strong opinions.

Some fans were reportedly not happy with Ryan Gosling’s casting in Starfighter for some reason. Unlike them, I have an unbelievably mild take. This might be an interesting career move for Gosling, who has been incredibly successful but rarely on the back of a franchise. Before exploring that, let’s learn why some fans think that his casting doesn’t make sense.

Disclaimer: This article contains the author's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.

Why Ryan Gosling's Star Wars casting doesn't make sense? Theories explored

Upon the announcement, The Guardian and Collider pointed out that the reason Ryan Gosling might not be the best choice is because Star Wars has long been a launchpad for young, fresh talent that people have not seen enough on screen to form an opinion of. Gosling, on the other hand, has proven his chops through different kinds of projects and also has a charismatic screen presence.

Reports say that George Lucas wanted to cast fresh faces in his Star Wars movies. However, that is not a rule carved in stone, and a new direction might not hurt after all. On the other hand, Collider pointed out a valid concern: this franchise has often offered characters that felt closer to real life than someone like Gosling, who has a larger-than-life screen presence. Regardless, let’s talk about why this might still make sense for Star Wars.

Why does Ryan Gosling's Star Wars casting make sense? Here's what we think

Although I don’t care for the universe, I know that a lot of people hold it dear and it is an important part of their growing up. If that’s true, the Star Wars role might be an interesting step in Gosling’s career. Although I would prefer to see him in a role that can benefit more from his acting skills, I don’t mind him venturing into this world if it means so much to so many people. There is another reason why Gosling’s casting makes sense.

In 2024, Gosling had an interview with The Wall Street Journal where he spoke about how he plans to choose his roles:

“I don’t really take roles that are going to put me in some kind of dark place. This moment is what I feel like trying to read the room at home and feel like what is going to be best for all of us. The decisions I make, I make them with [wife] Eva [Mendes], and we make them with our family in mind first.”

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So, a Star Wars movie, made by the director of the Night at the Museum movies and Free Guy, might support him in that direction. At the same time, it makes sense that a studio wouldn’t want to lose out on their profits by hiring the two voices they know can bring audiences to the screens — maybe more than just the Star Wars fans.

From what I’ve seen, the fans have been notoriously hard to please. So, only time can tell whether this Gosling-Levy collaboration is to their liking.

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