Oscar-winning Mikey Madison was almost confirmed for Shawn Levy-Ryan Gosling's Star Wars; here's everything to know
Fresh off her breakout performance in Anora, one of the year's most talked-about films, Mikey Madison is now being hailed as Hollywood's next big thing. With a BAFTA and an Independent Spirit Award, the 26 year old is suddenly at the top of every director's casting wish list. But what fans might not know is that she nearly boarded one of the most iconic franchises in cinema history: Star Wars.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Madison's carefully curated post-Anora career choices were put into focus. Since the film's debut at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Madison has been highly selective when it came to new work but she did set her sights on a few unexpected projects. One, according to the interview, was Reptilia, a love story about a dental hygienist who falls for a mermaid — directed by Alejandro Landes. The other? A galaxy far, far away.
For months, there were hushed rumours circulating through industry circles that Madison had been considered for a role in the new Star Wars film — one that would be directed by Shawn Levy and features none other than Ryan Gosling. While Madison didn't go into detail about how far she got in the process, the buzz was very real. The Gosling-led project has been in development at Lucasfilm since 2022, with Levy working closely with the studio to create something distinct. The director himself hinted at the film's direction during a podcast appearance, saying: 'I'll say that the experience of crafting this story has forced me to think about that question. Because there's only so many times that Star Wars movies can revisit the same section of the timeline, and so it's really forced me, because I don't want to do a Star Wars movie that is redundant to others, nor am I interested in doing one that has to serve another movie."'
That desire to break away from the franchise's well-worn territory might have been part of what attracted Madison — an actor now known for taking unconventional roles — to the project. And while the casting didn't ultimately come together, the near-miss has become a compelling 'what if' moment in her rising career.
Before Anora thrust her into the spotlight, Madison had already been making waves in Hollywood. She played Manson follower Susan Atkins in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) and took on a memorable role in Scream 5 (2022).cNow, with her phone ringing off the hook and scripts landing at her feet, Madison may have passed on the lightsaber for now, but you never know what the future might hold.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Prince Harry recreates a Princess Diana moment with his son Prince Archie at Disneyland
Image credits: X/@lorrainemking It is said that out of all the loves of life, a mother's love remains unforgettable even after she is gone. The nurture and undevoted love that a mother showers her children with beats inside their hearts reminding them of their value and soul. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex went on a trip to Disneyland with their kids, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. Meghan Markle took to Instagram to share snippets from the fun trip thanking Disneyland for their experience. "Thank you @disneyland for giving our family two days of pure joy!" wrote the Duchess in her post where she shared a video of the family enjoying various rides and moments in the magical land. While the trip may have been memorable and special for the young prince and princess, it also marked a special and emotional moment for their father Prince Harry . Harry revisited a chapter from his childhood on the Disneyland trip where he recreated a special memory of his mom with his son. Back in August 1993, eight-year-old Harry accompanied his elder brother Prince William, 11, and mother Princess Diana on a private visit to the Walt Disney World in Florida. The trip marked a rare moment of joy and togetherness for the trio as it was just months after Diana had separated from her husband, Prince Charles. The mother and sons went on an exclusive rise on Splash Mountain where they were escorted through Disney's secret underground tunnels for VIPs, accompanied by close friends and security. The ride was at that moment closed off to other guests. 'They were all very nice, very well-behaved. She was a sweetheart,' said a waiter at Flagler's restaurant (now Citricos) in the Grand Floridian. Image credits: X/@Survivor_MaryNU Now, the family visited Disneyland in Anaheim, California where they went to celebrate Princess Lilibet's fourth birthday. The celebration included a two-tiered birthday cake inspired by The Little Mermaid, possibly the princess' favourite Disney princess. The prince revisited the newly updated Splash Mountain, now known as Tiana's Bayou Adventure since 2024. While he could be seen sitting with Prince Archie, Meghan could be seen with Princess Lilibet. The post featured the family wearing Mickey Mouse ears and also stopping to meet Star Wars stormtroopers and Elsa from Frozen while munching on classic park treats like corn dogs and pickles.
Pink Villa
6 hours ago
- Pink Villa
Sentimental Value: Grand Prix Winning Film Eyes Thanksgiving Release Amid Neon Studios Gearing Up for Award Campaign, DEETS
Sentimental Value, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Grand Prix award, is headed to theaters in November. The Joachim Trier directorial will be stretched till the Thanksgiving period, and the limited release will help the movie to contend in the award season, especially the Oscars. As per the reports of Variety, Neon studios is planning a robust campaign for the film, as it received rave reviews during the Cannes premiere. Moreover, the studios rode high throughout the Cannes Film Festival. Not only did it premiere Sentimental Value, but it also acquired rights to the North American film The Secret Agent and Jafar Panahi's It Was Just an Accident. The latter movie won the Palme d'Or. What is Sentimental Value about? As for the plot of Sentimental Value, the movie revolves around a stage actress and her sister, who reunite with their estranged father, who is a director. After one of the daughters declines their father's offer to portray a role in her father's movie, the role goes to a popular film actress. According to the official synopsis of the film uploaded on the official Cannes Film Festival website, 'Sisters Nora and Agnes reunite with their estranged father, the charismatic Gustav, a once-renowned director who offers stage actress Nora a role in what he hopes will be his comeback film. When Nora turns it down, she soon discovers he has given her part to an eager young Hollywood star.' The movie has one of the most talented casts, which includes Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Elle Fanning, Cory Michael Smith, and Anders Danielsen Lie. Neon's previous projects The Neon studios, apart from Sentimental Value, are also known for the well-acclaimed projects like Anora and The Worst Person in the World. While Anora swept the Academy Awards in 2025, The Worst Person in the World also made it to the Oscar nominations for the best international feature and best original screenplay. Neon also helped Parasite head to the Oscars in the previous years. Sentimental Value will hit the screens on November 7.
News18
7 hours ago
- News18
Mindy Kaling On Her Acting Comeback: ‘I Would Like To…'
Last Updated: Actor Mindy Kaling joked about why she hadn't starred in shows like Never Have I Ever, where she was involved as an executive producer. Mindy Kaling is all set to make her acting comeback, and she would rather do it on her own terms. After a successful stint behind the scenes, the talented writer, actress, and producer is ready to switch gears to acting once more. The Office star confessed she missed being an actor in a recent chat. She also explained why she did not appear in series like Never Have I Ever and The Sex Lives of College Girls, despite being an executive producer for the shows. In a chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Mindy joked about why she hasn't starred in her shows. 'Never Have I Ever, a show literally about an Indian American family in Southern California, and if I wasn't on that — what's wrong with me? I think there is a part of me that feels a little superstitious. I'm like, these seem to have gone well and I'm not in them, so maybe I'll wait," she said. Never Have I Ever was inspired by Kaling's own life in the US. After years of focusing on writing and producing, Mindy's eager to get back to acting. 'I miss it, and I would like to write or co-create a show for me to act in soon," she revealed. Drawing from her experience on The Mindy Project, where she was both lead and creator, Kaling noted, 'It is unbelievably fun and it's so efficient. I would love to do that again." She's considering launching a new project in the next few years, where she can reprise her dual role as star and creator. 'That's the thing that maybe in the next couple of years, when I launch a couple of other things that are earlier in the pipeline, that would be something that would be fun to do again," she added. Mindy also reflected on her two-decade career in Hollywood, sharing her humble beginnings and her evolving definition of success. 'My idea of success keeps changing, and so I'm never happy, and that's the writer's disease," she admitted. On the work front, Mindy Kaling was part of the animated series Velma, where she voiced the titular character from the Scooby Doo franchise. Before that, she was seen on The Morning Show, where she portrayed a news anchor. First Published:
