Ryan Gosling Explains Why STAR WARS: STARFIGHTER Was Worth Breaking His No-Franchise Rule
There are actors who chase franchises, and then there’s Ryan Gosling. For years, he’s flirted with big genre filmmaking without ever planting his flag in a sprawling cinematic universe.
He danced through neon dystopia in Blade Runner 2049, went full plastic fantastic in Barbie, and is gearing up to headline Project Hail Mary, which is shaping up to be one of 2026’s biggest sci-fi swings.
But superheroes? Massive interconnected franchises? He’s kept those at arm’s length. That changes next summer with Star Wars: Starfighter.
In a recent interview with Gizmodo, Gosling opened up about why this was the project that finally convinced him to step into franchise territory. And it wasn’t just the galaxy far, far away that sold him. It was director Shawn Levy.
“It was Shawn’s enthusiasm and his vision and the script,” Gosling said. “And I just avoided these things because they never felt right. And I’m glad I did because I feel like, [similar to] a book like this, [it was] worth waiting for. And it is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Gosling has been rumored for everything from superheroes to major franchise leads over the years, but nothing ever stuck. He’s built a career on sharp instincts, mixing prestige dramas with stylish genre films, and picking projects that feel personal even when they’re massive in scope.
Early reactions suggest he may have chosen wisely. A recent report covering the state of Disney as Josh D’Amaro prepares to step in as CEO mentioned that people who’ve seen footage from Starfighter are “praising Ryan Gosling’s performance” and believe Levy was able to “recapture the franchise’s spirit of fun.”
After years of mixed reactions to various Star Wars projects, hearing that a new film captures that classic sense of adventure is exactly what fans want.
Some are even arguing that Starfighter could generate more excitement than The Mandalorian and Grogu, which hits theaters this May. That’s impressive considering how beloved those characters are.
Part of what makes Star Wars: Starfighter so interesting is what it represents. The current word is that the film tells a completely standalone story with no legacy characters driving the plot. It’s a fresh corner of the galaxy.
That’s a significant move for Lucasfilm.
There’s still a new trilogy in development from Simon Kinberg, and trilogies are baked into the DNA of Star Wars. But standalone films that jump around the timeline and focus on new characters could be the future.
Former Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy has said she’d like to invite filmmakers to play in the sandbox and tell unique stories instead of forcing everything into one tightly connected narrative. Starfighter feels like the first real test of that philosophy on the big screen.
After years of prioritizing Disney+ series, Lucasfilm appears ready to refocus on theatrical features. That means The Mandalorian and Grogu and Starfighter need to land. The franchise thrives in theaters. When a Star Wars movie works, it becomes an event that fans have to be a part of.
It also doesn’t hurt that Gosling reportedly delivers another strong performance. He’s already earning major praise for Project Hail Mary, and if he brings that same commitment to Starfighter, audiences are in good hands.
Gosling has spent his career sidestepping the obvious franchise route. The fact that he chose Starfighter suggests Levy’s pitch and the script offered something special. Maybe it’s a throwback adventure. Maybe it’s character-driven sci-fi with blockbuster scale. Maybe it’s both.
Either way, if Star Wars: Starfighter truly captures that classic spirit of fun while carving out new ground in the galaxy, Gosling’s patience may have paid off in a big way.
And if this is the movie that pulls fans back into theaters with genuine excitement, breaking that no-franchise rule will look like a very smart move.