Ryan Gosling agreed to star in Star Wars: Starfighter because of director Shawn Levy's 'enthuisasm and vision'

Ryan Gosling has hailed Star Wars: Starfighter a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".

The Project Hail Mary actor leads the cast of the upcoming stand-along story and has explained why big franchise projects had "never felt right" to him until director Shawn Levy pitched the project - which also stars Amy Adams and Mia Goth - and he was blown away by his "vision".

Speaking to io9, Ryan said: “It was Shawn’s enthusiasm and his vision and the script.

"And I just avoided these things because they never felt right. And I’m glad I did because I feel like, [similar to] a book like this, [it was] worth waiting for. And it is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Star Wars: Starfighter is set five years after Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker, the final film in the main franchise, and Ruan previously praised it as a "great story with great and original characters,” as well as “so much heart and adventure."

He added: “There is not a more perfect filmmaker for this particular story than Shawn.”