Ryan Gosling exits Daniels' event film at Universal

Scheduling conflicts prevent the actor from starring in the untitled project.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:21pm

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An abstract composition of bold, angular black shapes against a stark white background, conceptually representing the energy and visual style of a major Hollywood production.The loss of Ryan Gosling as the lead actor is a setback for the Daniels' highly anticipated event film at Universal, but the project's creative vision remains intact.Los Angeles Today

After initial reports that Ryan Gosling was in negotiations to star in an untitled event film from directors Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) at Universal, sources now say the actor will no longer be appearing in the project. The film was set to shoot in Los Angeles this summer after receiving a California tax credit, but scheduling conflicts prevented Gosling from closing a deal with the studio.

Why it matters

Gosling's attachment would have been a major boost for the Daniels' untitled film, which is expected to be a high-profile release for Universal. The directors' previous collaboration, the critically acclaimed "Everything Everywhere All at Once," was a breakout hit, so Gosling's involvement would have further elevated the project's profile and commercial prospects.

The details

According to reports, the Daniels' untitled film was unable to move off its targeted production date, and the scheduling could not be worked out between Gosling and the studio to finalize the deal. The project is still moving forward at Universal, but will now need to find a new lead actor to replace Gosling.

  • The film was set to shoot in Los Angeles this summer.
  • Gosling was initially in negotiations to star in the project.

The players

Daniels

The directing duo of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, who are helming the untitled event film at Universal.

Ryan Gosling

The acclaimed actor who was in negotiations to star in the Daniels' project before exiting due to scheduling conflicts.

Universal

The major Hollywood studio producing the Daniels' untitled event film.

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What’s next

The studio will now need to find a new lead actor to replace Gosling in the Daniels' untitled event film, which is still moving forward with its planned Los Angeles production this summer.

The takeaway

Gosling's exit is a setback for the Daniels' project, which had been anticipated as a high-profile release for Universal following the success of the directing duo's previous collaboration, "Everything Everywhere All at Once." The studio will need to quickly recast the lead role to keep the film on track for its planned production schedule.