STAR WARS: STARFIGHTER Rumor Reveals Eva Mendes’ Role Alongside Ryan Gosling
It looks like Ryan Gosling might be bringing a familiar face with him to a galaxy far, far away. A new report claims that Eva Mendes will appear in Star Wars: Starfighter, marking a potential return to acting after more than a decade away from Hollywood.
According to Knight Edge Media, Mendes is set to reunite with Gosling onscreen for the upcoming Star Wars movie, and her rumored role sounds like a fun little addition to the franchise.
The outlet claims to have “exclusively confirmed” that Mendes will appear in the film in “just a minor role” as “an intergalactic cantina owner.”
Rumors about Mendes joining the production have been circulating for about a year, with reports suggesting she was spotted on set while filming was underway during the summer of 2025.
If the casting report turns out to be legit, this would be Mendes' first live-action film appearance since 2014's Lost River, which also happened to be Gosling's directorial debut.
She played a cabaret performer in that movie before largely stepping away from acting to focus on raising their family.
Her only acting credit since then has been a voice appearance as a yoga instructor in the animated series Bluey in 2021.
Mendes previously opened up about her decision to leave Hollywood in a 2022 interview explaining that the roles she was being offered simply weren't worth pursuing.
“I got tired fighting for the good roles. There just was a point where I thought, ‘I’m going to create my own opportunities and become a producer on things and create my own material,’ but it just didn’t feel worth it to me.”
She also discussed how the industry had changed for Latina actresses since she stepped away.
“There are more opportunities for Latina actresses now [in 2022], but when I bowed out 10 years ago I wasn’t being offered things that weren’t specifically Latina.
“It is exciting that things are different now, so who knows what I will do in the future. But right now, I’m keeping it in the home with my kids,” she continued.
Mendes also previously said that working alongside Gosling was the one thing that could convince her to return to acting.
Knight Edge Media also shared an update about another potential Gosling project, reporting that Mendes isn't currently expected to reprise her role as reporter Roxanne Simpson from 2007's Ghost Rider.
Gosling is attached to lead an upcoming MCU adaptation of the Marvel character.
“That could change, but it’s not expected at this time,” the outlet stated.
Of course, Lucasfilm hasn't officially confirmed Mendes' involvement in Star Wars: Starfighter, so her casting and character details should be treated as rumors for now.
Star Wars: Starfighter is scheduled to hit theaters on May 28, 2027.