What initially looked like Ryan Gosling’s next inevitable leap into big-budget science fiction, riding the momentum of Project Hail Mary, has quietly turned into something far less straightforward. Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as the Daniels, are now without their leading man after Gosling exited the $150 million production due to scheduling conflicts. The $150 million enigma, all heart and no disclosed plot, now searches for a pulse.

The search to replace Ryan Gosling has so far proven fruitless, with two high-profile actors declining the opportunity to join the film.

Reports from Jeff Sneider via The Hot Mic suggest that Keanu Reeves and Brad Pitt were both approached to lead the $150 million sci-fi comedy from The Daniels. However, both actors declined the opportunity, leaving the production without its intended marquee replacement. The fact that they read the mysterious script is not known, although they might have been briefed about the film.

Keanu Reeves is currently navigating a packed slate that blends franchise commitments with high-concept science fiction. He is filming Shiver, a time-loop thriller directed by Tim Miller, where a smuggler becomes trapped amid sharks and mercenaries in the Dominican Republic, with a scheduled release window set. Alongside it, he is set to reprise Shadow the Hedgehog in Sonic the Hedgehog 4, which entered production in March 2026.

Brad Pitt, meanwhile, is equally occupied across prestige-driven projects spanning genres and continents. He recently wrapped The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a 1977-set Netflix feature written by Quentin Tarantino and directed by David Fincher, revisiting his Oscar-winning role. He is also shooting The Riders with Edward Berger for A24 across Europe, while Heart of the Beast adds a survival-driven turn under David Ayer’s direction. With both actors tied up in packed schedules, The Daniels are left continuing their search for a leading man for their 2027 film.

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As speculation around the secretive sci-fi film continues, Ryan Gosling remains equally busy with his not-so-secret schedule and Artemis II surprises. 

Ryan Gosling is currently navigating a demanding slate that stretches across genres and franchises. He leads Star Wars: Starfighter, a standalone entry set after The Rise of Skywalker, where he plays a Jedi Master protecting a young Padawan. Filming wrapped in late 2025 across locations including Sardinia, with a release planned for 2027, anchoring his packed schedule.

Alongside that, Gosling is also tied to Tough Guys, a comedic action pairing with Will Ferrell that follows two former henchmen targeted after leaving crime behind. The project is in pre-production at Amazon MGM Studios, adding another major commitment to his already stacked calendar. Both films alone already leave little breathing room for additional large-scale projects.

He was also originally attached to an untitled Ocean’s Eleven prequel set at the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix, before exiting due to scheduling conflicts, with Bradley Cooper stepping in alongside Margot Robbie. The project now sits in his past commitments as his current workload continues to expand, the very tightly packed slate ultimately kept Ryan Gosling away from The Daniels’ film.

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Who would you want to star in The Daniels' upcoming sci-fi? Let us know in the comments!