Ryan Gosling is at a point in his career where he only wants to make movies that are worth watching in theaters.
Speaking to journalists in Paris while promoting his new film Project Hail Mary, the Canadian actor said cinema should offer experiences that justify leaving home to see them on the big screen.
His comment comes as Hollywood faces uncertainty, with layoffs rising, productions shifting away from California, and streaming platforms continuing to challenge box office revenues.
Project Hail Mary is a sci-fi adventure about an astronaut who wakes up alone on a spaceship tasked with saving Earth from a mysterious phenomenon that is dimming the sun. He soon discovers he is not alone and teams up with an alien he names Rocky.
The film is based on the novel by Andy Weir, author of The Martian, which was adapted into a 2015 film starring Matt Damon.
Gosling, who also co-produced the project with Amazon MGM Studios, carries most of the story on his own, aside from his CGI alien companion.
In the film, he plays a timid science teacher who must rely on his scientific knowledge as he pieces together his memory and works with Rocky to complete the mission.
Gosling admitted he felt “appropriately intimidated” by the challenge but said he was drawn to Weir’s optimistic outlook about confronting fear with curiosity.
The actor also said the movie felt like something he wanted to make for his children and their generation.
Reflecting on his three-decade career, Gosling said he now feels freer to explore both dramatic and comedic roles — something he recently showcased in Barbie.
