Ryan Gosling Exits Directing Duo Daniels' Next Universal Movie

Summary

• Ryan Gosling has officially exited the upcoming untitled film from Oscar-winning directing duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (collectively known as Daniels)
• The departure is reportedly due to scheduling conflicts stemming from his heavy commitments to Amazon MGM’s Project Hail Mary and Shawn Levy’s upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter
• Backed by Universal Pictures, the mysterious event film’s theatrical release date has been officially pushed back to November 19, 2027

Ryan Gosling‘s packed blockbuster schedule has officially forced a major casting shake-up. Just over a week after news broke that the Oscar-nominated actor was set to lead the next film from Everything Everywhere All at Once directing duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, Variety has confirmed his sudden exit. Backed by Universal Pictures, the highly anticipated but closely guarded mystery project will now have to search for a new leading man as it gears up for production later this year.

According to industry reports, Gosling’s departure from the project stems entirely from rigid scheduling conflicts rather than any creative differences. The actor has been on an aggressive promotional run for his latest box office smash, the Amazon MGM sci-fi epic Project Hail Mary, which recently shattered expectations by earning $141 million globally in its opening weekend. Those ongoing commitments, combined with the grueling upcoming promo schedule for director Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter — which Gosling spent late 2025 filming ahead of a May 2027 release — left a window simply too narrow to accommodate the Daniels’ new feature.

While the exact plot details of the directors’ highly anticipated follow-up remain completely under wraps, the film is expected to begin production in Los Angeles this summer. Kwan and Scheinert will produce the untitled movie alongside producer Jonathan Wang through their Playgrounds overall deal with Universal.

The duo previously swept the film industry with 2022’s Everything Everywhere All at Once, a critical and commercial juggernaut that grossed over $100 million USD and secured seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Despite Gosling’s unfortunate departure, the filmmakers’ massive Hollywood momentum is expected to easily draw another major A-lister to carry the ambitious sci-fi project.

Following the major casting shift, Universal Pictures has officially delayed the untitled film’s theatrical release date, moving it from June 12, 2027, to November 19, 2027.