Ryan Gosling has reportedly exited the upcoming film from directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, famously known as Daniels, due to a conflict in his busy schedule. This development means the actor will no longer be part of the highly anticipated Universal project. The Daniels, fresh off their Oscar-winning success with "Everything Everywhere All at Once," had planned to commence filming in Los Angeles later this summer. However, the production schedule proved inflexible for Gosling, whose recent commitments included an extensive promotional tour for Amazon MGM's sci-fi epic, "Project Hail Mary."
The film, which remains untitled, was initially slated for a June 2027 release but was subsequently pushed back to November 2027. This change in dates ultimately led to the irreconcilable scheduling clash for Gosling. His latest movie, "Project Hail Mary," has achieved significant commercial success, raking in over $334 million globally, including $80 million domestically, since its March 20 debut. This box office triumph has further solidified Gosling's standing as a leading man in Hollywood.
Despite this withdrawal, Gosling is still set to appear in a major 2027 release: Shawn Levy’s “Star Wars: Starfighter.” This project will see him returning to a space-faring role, following his successful venture with "Project Hail Mary." The Daniels, meanwhile, have a strong track record, beginning with their feature debut "Swiss Army Man" in 2016, a quirky fantasy comedy. Their more recent work, "Everything Everywhere All at Once," not only garnered critical acclaim but also earned seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and grossed over $100 million at the box office.
Kwan and Scheinert, alongside producer Jonathan Wang, will continue to develop the untitled film through their Playgrounds production banner's overall deal with Universal. The team recently supported "The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist," a documentary released by Universal’s specialty studio, Focus Features. The news of Gosling's departure was initially broken by Deadline, with Universal declining to comment on the matter.
Ryan Gosling's withdrawal from the Daniels' next film highlights the complexities of modern film production, where star power and demanding schedules often collide. While his presence will be missed in this particular project, his continued involvement in other high-profile films like "Star Wars: Starfighter" ensures his ongoing visibility in the industry. The Daniels, with their proven creative vision, are expected to move forward with their project, undoubtedly finding a new lead to bring their unique cinematic ideas to life.
