Daniels and Ryan Gosling's collaboration has hit a snag. The casting of the 'Project Hail Mary' star in the Oscar-winning filmmaker's upcoming untitled film has been put on hold, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Initially disclosed by Deadline, the setback is attributed to scheduling conflicts, as the project, which secured a tax credit in California, couldn't shift its target summer start despite having a November 19, 2027 release date already in place.
The film falls under an overall deal with the studio for Daniels' Playgrounds banner, along with their long-time producing partner Jonathan Wang. It marks the duo's follow-up to the pop culture phenomenon 'Everything Everywhere All at Once,' which won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay for Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. It was also a box office success, earning $143 million on a $25 million budget.
The casting was seen as a significant coup, considering Gosling's recent success with 'Project Hail Mary' for Amazon MGM Studios, which opened at No. 1 at the global box office, potentially launching a new franchise for him and the studio.
Universal has kept plot details under wraps for Daniels' new film, but in an interview with Collider at SXSW, Kwan revealed some broad strokes by describing it as a "fun sci-fi, action comedy with a big heart. Very existential. All those things that you would hope one of our movies would be." He added that the film will also address the complexities of the current world. "One of the reasons why it's taking so long is because what we're feeling and what we're hearing from the world is very complex and nuanced, and there's so much paradox. To kind of reconcile all those things and put them into one movie, it takes time," he said.
The film will also feature an ensemble of younger talent, with one source indicating it could be in the high school age range. Kwan, Scheinert, and Wang are producing through their Playgrounds banner. Universal's executive vp of production development Sara Scott and director of production development Jacqueline Garell are overseeing the project for the studio.
Gosling will next star in Disney's 'Star Wars: Starfighter.'
