Summary
- Shawn Levy is directing a Star Wars standalone movie starring Ryan Gosling.
- Gosling's involvement indicates a major casting shift for the Star Wars franchise.
- Disney hopes Gosling's star power will increase interest and potentially revive the movie side of the franchise.
The Star Wars franchise continues to be one of the most beloved and commercially successful in Hollywood, so Disney is currently plowing ahead with making more content. While the focus has been on making Star Wars-related shows on Disney Plus in recent years, that doesn't mean there aren't any movies in the pipeline.
Shawn Levy is currently working on a brand-new Star Wars stand-alone movie, and the details coming out ahead of the film are starting to build up fans' anticipation. One of the most exciting pieces of news about the movie is the rumored casting decision.
This Shawn Levy Star Wars Movie Detail Is Positive
There is one specific detail about Shawn Levy's upcoming Star Wars film that provides a positive outlook.
Could Ryan Gosling Be Entering The Star Wars Universe?
Even though Levy has been working on this story since 2022, details surrounding this Star Wars film are scarce. However, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Ryan Gosling is slated to be the lead actor in this film, which is something few people expected. The decision was a late-in-the-game move for Levy's schedule as the LaLa Land star's interest in the part has ended up shifting this project forward for Levy. He was originally going to direct a boy band film set up at Paramount, but if a deal can be struck, this untitled Star Wars film is expected to be Levy's next project. It would also become the next Star Wars movie put into production and could start shooting as early as this fall.
How Ryan Gosling's Star Power Could Be Beneficial
The fact that things are moving so quickly showcases how beneficial having Gosling involved in the movie could be. Levy and Disney would be willing to push this film to the top of the priority list, and that's due to the quality that Gosling provides with his performances. That, coupled with the fact he's a genuine A-lister and a proven leading man, would make this a massive move for the Star Wars franchise to take, and one that could attract a lot of interest if it were to happen. Although, it would be a major shift from how casting traditionally takes place for Star Wars films.
A Star Wars feature movie rarely hires a major A-lister to be in the film. Even though Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher would go on to become legends of Hollywood, they were relative unknowns when cast in the original trilogy. Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen were also in the same situation, as were the three leading stars of the most recent trilogy. However, choosing to cast a bonafide star right out of the gate is exactly what the franchise needs right now.
Disney has struggled to get full momentum behind Star Wars in the past decade due to a lack of consistency. That has been the case with the movie and television side of things, and it has led to trust in the franchise starting to dip. Audiences aren't guaranteed to head out in their droves anymore, and that's why hiring a well-known name like Gosling could be the right move this time around. It would help build interest in the film before any trailer or plot becomes available, which would help give the movie a better chance of success.
It Would Also Help Ryan Gosling's Career
Adding Gosling as the lead actor for the upcoming Star Wars project might be seen as a positive for the movie, but it would also be a great career move for the Barbie star. He's had a brilliant career so far and has been involved in many amazing movies that have been widely successful. But there's nothing that quite matches being a lead name in a franchise as big as Star Wars, and having a good role in this type of movie could take him to another level. Being able to thrive in this environment isn't easy, nor is being able to succeed and make the films a hit because the audience is so vast and the pressure so high. However, if Gosling can pull that off, it would be a huge testament to his acting skills and ability as a leading man. It's the type of challenge he should be looking for, and the fact he's keen to do it is a good sign that he's ready for that.
This situation could prove to be a winning combination for both the movie and the actor, providing the necessary artistic challenge for Gosling, while Levy's project would get all of the benefits from having someone of his caliber involved. Disney could easily hire some more unknown names to fill out the cast to be in keeping with traditional Star Wars casting, but putting Gosling into this movie would instantly give it a greater chance of becoming a hit. Not only would it drive people into the cinema due to his talent, but it would also guarantee a strong acting performance. The Star Wars franchise needs a big win right now within its movie department, and if it ends up being a hit, then it could be a huge move for Gosling that would take him to another level as a star.
