In a Tweet from Variety’s Justin Kroll today, he stated “Rough news for those LOGAN’S RUN fans, I can confirm Ryan Gosling is no longer attached to the project.” The remake was to be adapted by Nicolas Winding Refn, the director of DRIVE, which created a bit of an indie phenomenon and led the filmmaker to work again with Gosling on next year’s ONLY GOD FORGIVES. It seemed like a blossoming actor/director relationship was burgeoning (and likely still is), but it appears they will have to separate for a bit.
No word on why Gosling dropped out, but there’s plenty of speculation to be had. Goslings marketability on a tentpole film, his upcoming directorial debut HOW TO CATCH A MONSTER, or it could simply be a matter of scheduling altogether. Sometimes things just don’t work out. There’s no indication that Refn is off the pic, but I’m sure news will follow shortly on the matter.
I’m not particularly for or against a LOGAN’S RUN remake, so it’s not a big deal to me, nor is it a big deal that Gosling isn’t playing anymore. However, I’m sure there were some that had hoped for a DRIVE meets LOGAN’S RUN style film, which they likely would’ve gotten (and still may, really). Refn seems passionate about the adaptation and working out the kinks to tell it to a modern audience, saying, “I have done this, I’ve gone back, and I’ve seen the movie, I’ve seen the TV show and I’ve started to read the novels. I’ve read the first one. And I’m beginning to get an angle on it that I think could be interesting. I think the challenge with Logan’s Run is that the premise is so brilliant, that the payoff will almost always be disappointing. Except, if you come up with something really, really, really, really brilliant.”
Refn and Gosling’s next team up, ONLY GOD FORGIVES will be released sometime in 2013. More as LOGAN’S RUN develops.