With any Star Wars project in development, part of the thrill for fans is to imagine how the cast will be filled out. This is particularly true with regard to Shawn Levy's confirmed Star Wars movie. The Academy Award-nominated producer and director has helmed science-fiction such as Arrival and Stranger Things as well as lighter fare in Night at the Museum and Free Guy. Levy is now rumored to be discussing a role in the untitled Star Wars film with another Oscar-nominated creative: Ryan Gosling.
What kind of role might Ryan Gosling play in Star Wars?
Ryan Gosling, who shares the home country of Canada with Levy, is well-known for his range as well. He has three Academy Award nominations to his credit, most recently as the affable and existential Ken in Barbie, but his previous nomination was for his role as the impassioned jazz musician Sebastian in La La Land.
As observed by ScreenRant, "I could easily see [Gosling] playing a smuggler-type character in the greater Star Wars galaxy, as well as a Jedi hero." Someone moving in the seedy underbelly of things could work for Gosling, who played K in Blade Runner 2049. This speculation of him playing a Jedi role would be an interesting contrast to this source's rumor that "Gosling was reportedly considered for the role of Kylo Ren over a decade ago."
I'm curious about how he would be used based on a 2023 interview with Shawn Levy in Variety about his initial talks with Lucasfilm leader Kathleen Kennedy:
"When Kathy Kennedy brought me on board to make a 'Star Wars' movie, her central mandate to me was 'I want a Shawn Levy movie. I want a story and a tone that reflects you and your taste and what you bring to your movies - with a 'Star Wars' story.'"Shawn Levy
It would be wonderful to see Gosling in a familiar type, as I enjoyed his unusual hero's journey in Free Guy as much as the committed creative from La La Land. On the other hand, Levy could bring him into a different function that surprises us as Gosling fans, but is what we come to expect from the executive producer of All the Light We Cannot See. I'd like to see Gosling defy expectations as he so often has in the past.
Whatever the truth there is to these rumors, we look forward to learning more about Levy's future in the Star Wars franchise.