Ryan Gosling has paid tribute to his upcoming Star Wars co-star, and I’m even more excited for the movie now. There are several upcoming Star Wars movies in development, set to begin releasing in 2026. The most immediate is the story of The Mandalorian and Grogu, continuing the journey of Din Djarin and his adopted son.

Beyond that, other projects are in the works that many are hoping will become some of the best Star Wars movies ever made. This is certainly a tall order, but the cast ᴀssembled for one specific project is exciting. Ryan Gosling is set to be the next major Star Wars star, with his glowing comments about a co-star increasing the hype.

Ryan Gosling Is A Huge Matt Smith Fan

The co-star whom Gosling has spoken about in the past is Matt Smith, with the two set to appear together in Star Wars: Starfighter. In an interview with Digital Spy for a 2014 movie тιтled Lone River, which Gosling directed, the star was asked about Matt Smith.

Gosling gave a glowing review for the man he cast in Lost River, and will soon be starring opposite in 2027’s Star Wars: Starfighter. Gosling referenced a scene from Smith’s run on Doctor Who in which the тιтular character was delivering a speech to a horde of spaceships.

Gosling stated, “I know, as an actor, how hard a scene like that is,” referencing the heavy CGI aspects at play in such a moment. He goes on to say, “I’ve never really seen anybody who looks like him or is like him… so I got really excited about working with him.” Evidently, Gosling holds Smith in high regard.

Star Wars: Starfighter Will Likely See Gosling & Smith Face Off

Not only do Gosling’s words make me more excited to see him and Smith together in Star Wars: Starfighter, but they make the nature of both actors’ roles infinitely more compelling. Gosling is set to be the hero of the film, while Smith – alongside horror actor Mia Goth – will serve as Star Wars: Starfighter‘s villains.

The rest of the film’s plot details are unclear, save for the reveal that Gosling’s hero will be protecting his nephew from evil pursuers. This sets the stage for Gosling and Smith to face off in Star Wars: Starfighter, a possibility that will almost certainly excite Gosling as much as the audience.

Gosling clearly enjoys Matt Smith’s ability to establish dominance in a scene, which is the key factor in his performance in the aforementioned Doctor Who speech. If Star Wars villains need to be anything, it is physically and intellectually dominant. Smith, as Gosling so aptly points out, is capable of both, raising the already palpable excitement for Star Wars: Starfighter.