“La La Land Was The First”: Why Ryan Gosling Isn’t Making “Dark” Movies Anymore

Actor Ryan Gosling explains why he is not taking on darker parts anymore. Historically, Gosling is known for his serious roles in films like Drive and Blue Valentine. In recent years, however, Gosling has taken on lighter parts, including most recently in Barbie, where he played the role of Ken. Gosling was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role of Ken, and performed Barbie’s hit song “I’m Just Ken” at the Oscars ceremony this year.

Speaking with WSJ Magazine, Gosling details his reasoning behind switching to lighter movies. One of the main causes for this career shift, the actor said, was to be able to go home from work and be more present for his two young daughters, who are 8 and 9. Gosling does not wish to “take roles that are going to put [him] in some kind of dark place.” He said this shift began around the time he made La La Land. Check out the full explanation from Gosling below:

“I don’t really take roles that are going to put me in some kind of dark place. This moment is what I feel like trying to read the room at home and feel like what is going to be best for all of us. The decisions I make, I make them with Eva and we make them with our family in mind first.”

“I think La La Land was the first. It was just sort of like, Oh, this will be fun for them, too, because even though they’re not coming to set, we’re practicing piano every day or we’re dancing or we’re singing. Their interest in Barbie and their disinterest in Ken was an inspiration. I thought, they were already making little movies about their Barbies on the iPad when it happened, so the fact that I was going off to work to make one too, we just felt like we were aligned.”

Ryan Gosling’s Career Shift Explained

While this quote makes it clear that Gosling has shifted his mindset over an extended period of time, his role change was noted by the public most significantly in the past two years. This commentary came when Gosling was cast in Barbie in 2022, and pictures revealed the actor in a vibrant outfit filming for the movie. Upon the release of those pictures, a number of jokes circulated about the sharp contrast between Gosling’s role in Barbie and some of his earlier work.

Instead of being a jarring turn, however, Barbie ended up being a fantastic example of Gosling’s range. The film proved that as much as Gosling can shine in serious drama, the actor has the ability to take a full-on goofy tone. His performance as Ken is over-the-top, exaggerated, and overall fun. Those who followed Gosling’s career from the time of Drive may have never imagined the A-lister in a role like that of Ken, but this change is a welcome one in his career.

His career transition — from La La Land and beyond — has also been successful in its reception. Both La La Land and Barbie earned him Oscar nominations and widespread critical acclaim, showing that Gosling does not have to enter a dark state in order to put on a great performance. As Gosling moves forward in his career post-Barbie, he will continue to take on these lighter roles, including the action-packed romantic comedy The Fall Guy, which is set to hit theaters this weekend.

Source: WSJ Magazine