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For much of his career, Ryan Gosling has done an admirable job of avoiding big, tentpole franchises. His ability to become one of the most marketable men in Hollywood without playing the same character twice is remarkable. His upcoming appearance in Star Wars: Starfighter is easily the largest franchise role of his career, and, according to the actor’s recent statements, it was Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy’s enthusiasm that brought him on board.

While promoting his other upcoming sci-fi film, Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling was inevitably asked about what made him join the cast of Star Wars: Starfighter when he’d avoided similar franchises in the past. It was, it seems, director Shawn Levy’s enthusiasm that sold him on the project.

“It was Shawn’s enthusiasm and his vision and the script,” Ryan Gosling said of his decision to join the cast of Star Wars: Starfighter. “And I just avoided these things because they never felt right. And I’m glad I did because I feel like, [similar to] a book like this, [it was] worth waiting for. And it is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

So far, all signs point to Star Wars: Starfighter being a completely standalone movie, which would mean that Ryan Gosling would make this a brief dip in the tentpole franchise world. Which is fine, since this is the first Star Wars film to take place in the post-Skywalker Saga era. However, if the box office is big enough, it is hard to imagine Disney won’t want another Starfighter movie. If that happens, we’ll have to see if Ryan Gosling decides to come back.

Get to know, understand, and love the Star Wars franchise more with our Star Wars watch order, guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies & TV shows, and all the Star Wars movies and Star Wars TV shows ranked.