Ryan Gosling is reportedly in talks to star in Shawn Levy’s upcomingStar Warsmovie, and the possibilities are endless. HavingRyan Gosling officially join theStar Warsuniversewould be a huge boon for the franchise. It’s also a massive deviation from the norm – generally speaking,Star Warshas refrained from casting major A-list Hollywood talent in its movies and TV shows, opting instead to keep casting more grounded with less well-known character actors and exciting newcomers.
Interestingly enough,this isn’t the first time Gosling has been rumored to be joining theStar Warsgalaxy– before casting was confirmed forStar Wars: The Force Awakens, Gosling was reportedly considered for the role of Kylo Ren, which went to Adam Driver instead. We’ll never know what Gosling would have brought to the role of the temperamental Knights of Ren leader, but who’s to say he can’t claim another Sith-related role now? Ryan Gosling could play any established character – from the good to the bad and those caught somewhere in between.
10Agent Kallus
First appearance: Star Wars Rebels
Obviously, if Ryan Gosling is cast in Shawn Levy’supcomingStar Warsmovie, he’ll have a major role to play.Star Wars Rebels’ Agent Kallus probably isn’t the first character you’d think of as a major character, but if we’re doing this based on looks alone, Gosling has this role in the bag – especiallyThe Fall Guyera Gosling.
Who’s to say Kallus couldn’t play a major part inStar Wars’future, anyway? He began as one of the Empire’s most loyal agents, fighting a losing battle against the Ghost Crew’s rebel cell on Lothal. In the end, he defected to the Rebellion after a near-fatal night spent alone with the Ghost Crew’s Garazeb Orrelios, whose people Kallus had (nearly) managed to destroy. We don’t really know what happened to Kallus afterStar Wars Rebels’s epilogue – he may have become a major force for good in the Rebellion.
9Tak Rennod
First mentioned: Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
The idea of Tak Rennod as a character may have only just been introduced inStar Wars: Skeleton Crew, but there is so much potential there, andGosling would excel at playing one of the most fearsome pirates the galaxy has ever seen. If Shawn Levy’sStar Warsfilm is indeed a standalone, as reported, one entirely removed from the Skywalker saga, the story of a pirate legend and his bounty could be perfect for a self-containedStar Warsstory.
Pirates are having a moment inStar Wars, after all; not just inSkeleton Crew, but in the publishing initiativeStar Wars: The High Republic, too. I’d love to see more pirates inStar Wars. Why not this one? Gosling could make the character entirely his own while expandingStar Wars’pirate lore.
8Ren
First appearance: Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren
Gosling may not have been chosen to play Kylo Ren, but maybe he could still play the Knights of Ren’s previous leader, known simply by the alias Ren. Introduced in the comic seriesStar Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren, this version of Ren encountered and battled Ben Solo and Luke Skywalker on Elphrona, sensing Ben’s strength and taunting him about following the path of the dark side.
Later, following Ben’s ill-fated confrontation with his uncle and the fall of Luke’s new Jedi Academy, Ben contacted Ren and demanded to jointhe Knights of Ren. In the end, Kylo defeated and killed Ren, taking over the leadership of the Knights. There’s plenty of ground the film could cover that takes place before Solo’s takeover, though, including Ren’s work with Crimson Dawn, his duel with Darth Vader, and more.
7Stellan Gios
First appearance: Star Wars: The High Republic (Light of the Jedi)
There are twoHigh Republic-eraJedi I think Gosling would be perfect to play, and Jedi Master Stellan Gios is one of them.Stellan is an even-tempered, kind, wise, and thoughtful Jedi, who grew up in the Order alongside fellow Jedi powerhouse Avar Kriss and their close friend, Elzar Mann. I’d love to see how these three became closer and subsequently grew apart. There’s so much character work possible there.
The trio’s dynamic alone would make it worthwhile to focus on Stellan in a standalone High Republic movie. But Stellan was also Vernestra Rwoh’s master, a Jedi prodigy knighted at the tender age of 15. While an older, live-action version of Vernestra was seen on screen inStar Wars: The Acolyte, her relationship with Stellan is undeniably compelling. Honestly, I just want to see more of the High Republic on screen. Is that too much to ask?
6Darth Revan
First appearance: Legends (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic)
I don’t think a singleStar Wars(Legends) fan doesn’t want to seeDarth Revan brought intoStar Warscanon, especially since the game remake ofKnights of the Old Republicseems to be on hold indefinitely. One of the most beloved and complex Sith in the entire franchise, Revan had pivotal roles to play in both the Mandalorian Wars and the Jedi Civil War.So much compelling and pivotalStar Warshistory is intrinsically tied to this character. It would be a shame never to bring this tale to the big screen.
I’m convinced Gosling could play anyone in theStar Warsuniverse. Why not a character as universally revered as Darth Revan? It would be a great use of his star power and a fantastic chance forStar Warsto start re-building its canon history.
5Kyle Katarn
First appearance: Legends (Star Wars: Dark Forces)
If Luke Skywalker is building a new Jedi Order, then there’s no reason whyKyle Katarncan’t make his cinematic debut, too. Katarn started as a Force-sensitive Rebel operative, and following diligent study and dangerous exploratory missions, eventually became a Jedi Master. He even took on a Jedi Padawan, fan-favorite Legends character Mara Jade, and soon became a leader of the new Jedi High Council.
Obviously, the canonical New Republic timeline is very different from the one in Legends, andnot all of Kyle’s story beats can be included; but he’d certainly be a fun and intriguing addition to theStar Warscanon. I can see Gosling as Katarn, can’t you? There’s so much this character could do and become!
4Marchion Ro
Marchion Ro is arguably one ofStar Wars’greatest villains, and that’s saying something, considering he isn’t even a Sith. The leader of a band of vicious marauders known as the Nihil, Marchion Ro has almost single-handedly outwitted the Republic and the Jedi during the High Republic era, driving them closer together and setting the stage for their eventual defeat centuries later. He was responsible for the Great Hyperspace Disaster, the destruction of Starlight Beacon, and the annexation of a huge swathe of Republic space, plunging hundreds of worlds into chaos and suffering.
Marchion Ro is an incredibly compelling character and would give Gosling a lot to chew on. Plus, I think it would be fun for Gosling to play a character that isn’t human but rather another species entirely (Evereni). It would take the focus away from “Wow, that’s Ryan Gosling,” to “Wow, that’s Marchion Ro!” If any recentStar Warsvillain deserves to make a big-screen debut, it’s Marchion Ro.
3Ajunta Pall
Star Wars: The Acolytemade a valiant attempt to understand the lore of the Sith, but its premature cancelation stopped that exploration in its tracks. So,why not cast Gosling as the first-ever Sith lord? Ajunta Pall was a Jedi Knight who went rogue and created a faction of Dark Jedi, leading them to exile from the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic. Following the Hundred-Year Darkness, Ajunta and his followers became stranded on Korriban, where he became the first “Dark Lord of the Sith.”
Later, as told inKnights of the Old Republic,Darth Revan encounters the spirit of Ajunta Pall, and the latter spoke of his regret for leading his fellow Jedi astray. Revan eventually convinces Pall to revert to the Light, and the former rogue Jedi becomes one with the Force. This would be such a great story to bring intoStar Warscanon, finally giving audiences answers about the Sith religion and an examination of what it means for a Jedi to turn to the dark side.
2Tarre Vizsla
First mentioned: Star Wars Rebels
Just like pirates, Mandalorians are having a moment inStar Wars, too, sowhy not give Ryan Gosling the ultimate Mandalorian role? Originally mentioned inStar Wars Rebels,Tarre Vizsla was the first (but no longer the only) Mandalorian Jedi. He created the legendary Darksaber roughly 1,000 years before the Skywalker saga and eventually became the Mand’alor, the sole leader of the people of Mandalore.
Given the prominence of Mandalorian culture inStar Wars, their history is still woefully underexplored in canon (Legends is a different story).Star Warshas been carefully attempting to explore more oftheStar Warstimeline, so a story centered on Tarre Vizsla and the history of Mandalore would be a great way to dig deeper intoStar Warsand Mandalorian lore. This is another role Gosling could make entirely his own without relying on previous interpretations.
1Elzar Mann
Elzar Mann is the second High Republic-era Jedi I would love to see Gosling play (and my favorite choice).Elzar is one of the most emotionally complex JediStar Warshas ever introduced. He struggles with his morality, his mortality, his need for love and companionship, his power, and above all, his guilt. His relationships with Avar Kriss and Stellan Gios are pivotal to his character and his development, too. It’s a meaty role; one Gosling would undoubtedly be perfectly suited for.
It’s about time the High Republic was brought to the big screen, in my opinion. Casting Gosling as Elzar would make this pivotalStar Warsera more intriguing for High Republic newcomers and avid readers alike. Honestly, I see no downside. Come on, Lucasfilm, what are you waiting for? Whatever role Ryan Gosling potentially ends up playing inStar Wars, we can’t wait to find out.
