Ryan Gosling Reveals the Famous Role He Decided To Walk Away From

When David Ayer was preparing to bring his band of DC anti-heroes to the big screen in Suicide Squad, the search for a new Joker was one of the most talked-about casting hunts in Hollywood. Looking back, many fans remember the mixed reception the film eventually received, but at the time, the project felt like a massive and daring shift for the superhero genre.

With the writer of Training Day steering the ship, it seemed like a guaranteed hit, yet the production still needed to find an actor capable of filling the legendary shoes of the Clown Prince of Crime.

According to reports from IndieWire, the team behind the film initially reached out to Ryan Gosling for the role. While the chance to reinvent such a famous villain was likely tempting, Gosling ultimately turned the offer down due to his packed schedule.

At that moment, the actor was already deep into two major projects that would define his career: the witty neo-noir The Nice Guys and the romantic sensation La La Land, the latter of which earned him an Academy Award nomination.

Beyond just a busy calendar, Gosling also had concerns about the typical requirements of comic book movies, specifically the long-term, multi-film contracts. Wanting to maintain his freedom to choose a wide variety of roles rather than being locked into a single franchise for a decade, he decided to let another actor take the part. Considering the success he has found since then with films like First Man and the global phenomenon Barbie, it appears he made a very calculated and successful decision for his filmography.

Still, the idea of Gosling as the Joker remains one of the most interesting “what if” scenarios in modern cinema. Fans often wonder how his signature charm and ability to play intense, quiet characters would have translated to the Joker’s chaotic energy. While Jared Leto eventually took the role, many still imagine that Gosling could have provided a more grounded and layered take on the classic villain.

Ultimately, Gosling’s choice highlights his preference for artistic variety over the massive box office pull of a superhero franchise. By prioritizing smaller, more eclectic projects, he has kept his career unpredictable and worked with some of the most respected directors in the business. While we have yet to see him play a truly villainous character on that scale, most agree that passing on Suicide Squad was likely the right move for his long-term artistic path.

As we move through the year, Gosling’s schedule remains incredibly ambitious, proving that his focus on variety continues to pay off. He is currently preparing for the global release of his highly anticipated sci-fi epic Project Hail Mary, which is scheduled to hit theaters on March 20. In the film, he stars as Ryland Grace, a scientist who wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of his mission to save humanity, featuring a cast that includes Sandra Hüller and Ken Leung.

In addition to his work in space, Gosling has recently wrapped filming on a major new installment in the Star Wars universe. The project, titled Star Wars: Starfighter, is directed by Shawn Levy and is currently slated for a summer 2027 release.

Do you think Ryan Gosling’s version of the Joker would have been a better fit for the dark tone of the DC universe than the version we eventually saw on screen? Share your thoughts in the comments.