Title: 8 Huge Movies Ryan Gosling Refused To Star In — And You Won’t Believe Why!
Hey, Hollywood stans! Ryan Gosling may be best known for his swoon-worthy roles in The Notebook, La La Land, and Barbie, but did you know the dreamy A-lister has turned down some truly massive movie roles? That’s right — even your fave heartthrob doesn’t say yes to everything that comes his way!
From superhero blockbusters to Oscar-winning dramas, these roles could have changed the entire landscape of his career… and ours! So buckle up, movie buffs, because we’re diving into the 8 Huge Movies Ryan Gosling Refused to Star In — and trust us, some of these will shock you!
- SUICIDE SQUAD
Yep, you read that right! Ryan Gosling was reportedly offered the role of The Joker in 2016's Suicide Squad before Jared Leto landed the gig. According to inside sources, Gosling wasn't vibing with the idea of signing on to a multi-film DC contract. And let’s face it — who could commit to clown makeup, gold teeth, and total mayhem for YEARS?
Can you imagine Gosling as the Clown Prince of Crime though? He definitely has the range, but we can kinda see why he passed.
- DOCTOR STRANGE
Before Benedict Cumberbatch took us all on a trippy ride with Marvel’s Doctor Strange, Gosling was one of the top names being eyed for the role. MCU casting guru Kevin Feige allegedly had an early meeting with Ryan, but Gosling wasn’t down to get locked into another long-term franchise. Superpowers just weren’t in his star chart — at least, not that kind.
Still, can you imagine Gosling rocking the Cloak of Levitation? Total box office magic!
- THE LONE RANGER
Back in 2012, Disney was desperate to land a big name for their reboot of The Lone Ranger. Guess who was their first pick? Yep, our man Ryan Gosling. But he turned it down, paving the way for Armie Hammer to ride into the sunset (and into one of Hollywood’s biggest box office flops of the decade).
Considering all the drama that surrounded that film, Gosling may have dodged a silver bullet with this one.
- BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
In one of the most surprising “almosts” of his career, Ryan Gosling was reportedly offered the role of Beast in Disney’s 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast. But he passed — and ironically, he was filming La La Land at the time, which Emma Watson turned down to play Belle.
So, yes: what could’ve been the ultimate Disney fairytale dream team never happened… because fate can be so rude sometimes.
- BATMAN (THE BATMAN, 2022)
When rumors swirled about who would take over the cape and cowl after Ben Affleck stepped down, Gosling’s name shot to the top of every fan-casting list. Though Warner Bros. was seriously considering him, he reportedly wasn’t impressed with the dark, gritty direction the film was heading in.
The role ultimately went to Robert Pattinson — and no shade — he slayed. But Gosling as the Dark Knight? We still would’ve watched that on repeat, ngl.
- THE HUNGER GAMES
Talk about alternate timelines! Gosling was offered the part of Peeta Mellark before Josh Hutcherson was cast. But rumor has it Ryan felt he was too mature to believably play a teenage love interest opposite then-rising star Jennifer Lawrence.
Imagine a RyGos-Katniss romance set in dystopia? Fingers crossed for a multiverse reboot, amirite?
- FIFTY SHADES OF GREY
This one’s a total jaw-dropper. Studios were serious about tapping Ryan Gosling for the role of Christian Grey in the massively hyped Fifty Shades of Grey adaptation. However, Gosling reportedly passed, citing a lack of interest in the material (honestly, same).
That sultry role eventually went to Jamie Dornan, and while we can’t lie about loving his take, imagine Gosling in those steamy scenes? The internet might’ve combusted.
- STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
After Disney acquired Lucasfilm, every A-lister in Hollywood wanted in on the next Star Wars trilogy. Ryan Gosling was reportedly approached for the role of Poe Dameron, which later went to Oscar Isaac. While there wasn’t any public beef, whispers say Gosling didn’t want to compete with another mega-franchise commitment.
Let’s be real — lightsabers and leather jackets? Gosling would’ve looked out-of-this-world!
Final Thoughts
Even though Ryan Gosling has skipped out on some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, he’s managed to carve a career that's not just #goals, but also fiercely on his own terms. From romantic classics to daring indies and his now-iconic Ken performance, Gosling proves that saying “no” can sometimes be your best career move.
It’s not just about being in the biggest movies — it’s about being in the right ones. And if Gosling has taught us anything, it’s that staying true to your vibe is always in style.
Stay tuned for more celeb tea, casting near misses, and movie secrets you need to know. Because in Hollywood, things are never as simple as they seem…
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Got a movie role you WISH Ryan had taken? Sound off in the comments. We see you, stans 💅
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