Ryan Gosling’s portrayal of Ken in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is unquestionably one of the year's most unforgettable performances. His ability to fully embrace the character and be as noteworthy as he was in a film packed with memorable elements truly showcases his remarkable talent. Having just made his debut on the Billboard Hot 100 with the sensational summer hit "I’m Just Ken” and Barbie continuing its dominance at the box office, rapidly approaching an exceptional $1 billion worldwide, Gosling is set to appear in several upcoming films within the next few years. Among them are a Netflix sequel and a reunion with his Barbie co-star.
The actor's star continues to shine as he progresses in his career, with many viewing his performance in Barbie as worthy of an Academy Award. For those who crave more of the gifted Canadian actor, here's a glimpse into five of his future features.
Ryan Gosling’s Next Films
1. The Fall Guy
Directed by Atomic Blonde helmer David Leitch, known for his work on Deadpool 2, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw and Bullet Train, The Fall Guy emerges as an adaptation of the 1980s TV series sharing the same name. The story follows Colt Seaver, a versatile stuntman who doubles as a bounty hunter, adeptly employing his stunt expertise to ensnare criminals. An aged Colt returns as the body double for a star he had collaborated with extensively. However, trouble emerges as the star vanishes from the bustling set, setting the stage for intrigue. Gosling stars in the lead role of Colt Seaver.
Leitch previously revealed his profound connection to the film during CinemaCon in 2023 due to his own history as a former stuntman. The film poignantly underscores the bravery of stunt performers who risk their lives executing dangerous action sequences yet often find their contributions undervalued.
Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke, Hannah Waddingham and Teresa Palmer star alongside Gosling in The Fall Guy.
The Fall Guy will be released in theaters on March 1, 2024.
2. Project Hail Mary
The upcoming Project Hail Mary will be helmed by directing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, known for their work on such titles as Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 22 Jump Street, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse and The Lego Batman Movie, just to name a few. Drawing inspiration from the novel of the same name by Andy Weir, the story orbits around Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut who is suddenly plagued with amnesia that blocks his recollection of the dangerous mission assigned to him. Determinedly, he embarks on a quest to piece together fragmented memories, striving to safeguard humanity from imminent extinction. Gosling is the only confirmed cast member of the project for now, starring as Ryland Grace.
Project Hail Mary does not have a release date as of yet.
3. Wolfman
After a failed attempt at kickstarting their own Dark universe with 2014’s Dracula Untold and The Mummy in 2017, Universal Pictures remains determined. Their recent release of the Nicolas Cage-led Renfield served as a "quasi-sequel" to the 1931 classic Dracula. News previously surfaced in 2020 about an upcoming Wolfman film starring Gosling as the titular character. Adding to the intrigue, Derek Cianfrance, known for his directorial contributions to works like The Light Between Oceans and two previous collaborations with Gosling in Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines, has been enlisted for the project. Gosling previously shared his genuine enthusiasm for this venture while speaking with Collider, highlighting his positive past experiences working alongside Cianfrance on their earlier collaborations:
“I just would do anything with Derek, but the idea of doing something like that just seems really exciting. It's new for both of us, but in some way, I feel like it's kind of the movie we've made already a few times, but in literal form. We've always kind of made the metaphorical version of it, and it's sort of like the opportunity to really, to just make the literal version of what we've been hacking away at.”
Wolfman does not have a release date as of yet.
4. The Gray Man 2
Netflix's wildly expensive The Gray Man premiered in the summer of 2022 and achieved the distinction of being the platform's fifth most successful film debut. In its initial three days, viewers clocked in an impressive 88.55 million hours of watching time. It also swiftly ascended to the top spot on Netflix's film rankings in 84 different countries. As September rolled around, the film's cumulative viewing hours reached an impressive 253.8 million which unsurprisingly warranted a sequel announcement almost immediately following its release. Ryan Gosling stars as Courtland Gentry AKA "Sierra Six" and he will reprise his role in the sequel alongside Dhanush as Avik San.
Anthony and Joe Russo, best known for helming Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, directed the first film which follows CIA operative "Sierra Six" (Gosling), who finds himself in a risky situation as he becomes a target of pursuit by the ruthless former CIA agent and mercenary, Lloyd Hansen (played by Chris Evans). The story unfolds after Sierra Six stumbles upon damning evidence of corruption within his higher-ups. The Russos previously confirmed in an interview with Collider, prior to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, that the sequel’s script was being written.
The Gray Man 2 does not have a release date as of yet.
5. Untitled Margot Robbie Ocean's Eleven Film
One of the upcoming highlights of Gosling's filmography is a reunion with his Barbie co-star, Margot Robbie, in a remake of Ocean's Eleven. Robbie had previously been selected to lead this Ocean's Eleven prequel set in 1960s Europe, with Gosling joining the project soon after. Jay Roach is set to helm the film which marks another Robbie reunion after they previously worked together on the 2019 film Bombshell.
The original Lewis Milestone-directed 1960 film featured the iconic Rat Pack ensemble of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. In the early 2000s, Steven Soderbergh helmed a modern remake of Ocean’s Eleven, boasting a star-studded lineup led by George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. This success paved the way for three sequels, including the spin-off Ocean’s 8 which starred Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett.
Untitled Margot Robbie Ocean's Eleven Film does not have a release date as of yet.
Ryan Gosling’s remarkable talent keeps fans eagerly anticipating his next cinematic endeavor. While we await the release of the mentioned films, you can witness his Kentacular (apologies, last one) performance in Barbie.
Barbie is currently in theaters.