I bring you some bittersweet news for Ryan Gosling fans. Universal Pictures’ acclaimed biographical drama First Man will soon be departing from Netflix, with its final day on the streaming platform set for Thursday, November 14.
In the 2018 film, Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling portrayed the iconic role of astronaut Neil Armstrong, chronicling his journey towards becoming the first man to walk on the moon. The story takes place during the decade leading up to the historic Apollo 11 mission, showcasing Armstrong’s challenging path and the personal toll it took on him and his family.
Damien Chazelle, the Oscar-winning filmmaker, directed First Man, an adaptation of James R. Hansen’s 2005 novel of the same name. Josh Singer penned the screenplay, while Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Christopher Abbott, Ciarán Hinds, and Pablo Schreiber starred in the film. Foy’s portrayal of Neil Armstrong’s wife, Janet, even earned her a Golden Globe Award for best supporting actress.
“When I initially pitched him [the role of] Neil Armstrong, I had never worked with him, so I had no idea if that was going to be a happy experience or an awful experience,” Chazelle told Screen Daily in 2018. “I just knew I liked him as an actor. I was genuinely approaching him as a fan and responding to something in his acting. Finding a way to bring the inscrutable to life is the best way I can describe it. He has an ability to say so much with so little, and, for that reason, Neil felt like a tailor-made role for him.”
Despite its critical acclaim, First Man underperformed at the box office during its theatrical run, grossing just over $105 million worldwide. However, the film still managed to earn a Certified Fresh rating of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 465 reviews.
Gosling’s powerful performance as Neil Armstrong has cemented his status as one of the most versatile actors of his generation. Two upcoming projects currently have the Canadian star attached to them. The first is Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s sci-fi movie Project Hail Mary, which will once again feature Gosling as an astronaut. Expect him to reunite with Emma Stone and Steve Carell in a new comedy, Misadventure.
In a surprising twist, Gosling’s popularity has also led to speculation about a potential solo Ken movie. In 2023’s live-action Barbie film, Gosling portrayed the iconic character, earning him his third Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. When asked about the possibility of a Ken spinoff, director Greta Gerwig coyly responded, “I mean, the truth is, you know—I guess we’ll see.”
As the clock ticks down on First Man’s departure from Netflix, Gosling fans around the world will be rushing to catch one last glimpse of the actor’s powerful performance as the legendary Neil Armstrong. This November 14 marks the end of an era, but with Gosling’s bright future in Hollywood, there’s no doubt that his fans will have plenty more to look forward to in the years to come.