Gosling exits the project

Ryan Gosling will no longer star in Daniels’ untitled event film at Universal Pictures after the two sides were unable to close a deal. According to sources, the departure is being blamed on scheduling conflicts. The film had secured a California tax credit and was not able to move off its planned summer start date, with a release already set for Nov. 19, 2027.

The news marks an early setback for a project that had looked like a strong fit for the Project Hail Mary star, especially given the momentum he is carrying after that film opened No. 1 globally for Amazon MGM Studios. That launch has the feel of a potential franchise starter, which is exactly the sort of thing Hollywood likes to celebrate before the math changes.

Daniels’ next move after Everything Everywhere All at Once

The film is part of Daniels’ overall deal at Universal through their Playgrounds banner with longtime producing partner Jonathan Wang. It follows the pair’s breakout smash Everything Everywhere All at Once, which won seven Academy Awards, including best picture, best director and best original screenplay for Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. It also became a major box office success, grossing $143 million on a $25 million budget.

Gosling’s casting had been viewed as a coup for the project, especially coming off the strong debut of Project Hail Mary.

What is known about the film

Universal has kept plot details quiet, but Kwan offered a few broad clues during an SXSW interview with Collider. He described the movie as a “fun sci-fi, action comedy with a big heart. Very existential. All those things that you would hope that one of our movies would be.”

He also said the film is being shaped by the state of the world around it.

“One of the reasons why it’s taking so long is because what we’re feeling and what we’re hearing from the world is very complex and really nuanced, and there’s so much paradox. To kind of reconcile all those things and put them into one movie, it takes time,” Kwan said.

The cast is expected to center on younger performers, with one source suggesting the roles may be in the high school age range. Daniels and Wang are producing through Playgrounds, while Universal executive vice president of production development Sara Scott and director of production development Jacqueline Garell are overseeing the film for the studio.

Gosling’s next confirmed project is Disney’s Star Wars: Starfighter.