Ryan Gosling wanted by both Marvel and DC for superhero roles

Canadian actor Ryan Gosling is a wanted man.

The 33-year-old London, Ontario native has earned legions of fans, thanks to hearthrob turns in movies like “The Notebook” and “Drive,” but he has yet to become that blockbuster star that many thought he would be. That may change very soon, though.

According the The Hollywood Reporter, word is that Gosling is being sought after by the two biggest names in the superhero movie game: Marvel Studios and DC Entertainment. Gosling reportedly sat down with Marvel recently to discuss the possibility of taking on the title role in the upcoming “Doctor Strange” movie. (Joaquin Phoenix was originally tapped for the role, but the notoriously picky actor eventually dropped out.) Gosling is the latest big name to be associated with the role of Marvel’s sorcerer supreme, joining names like Keanu Reeves, Matthew McConaughey, Ewan McGregor, Jared Leto, and Ethan Hawke on the long list of contenders.

The “Gangster Squad” star is also said to be high on DC’s list for a starring role in the recently announced “Suicide Squad” movie. (The Gos will apparently only do big tentpole movies if they include the word “squad” in the title.) The lesser-known superteam known as the Suicide Squad is about as far from the Superman and Batman led Justice League as you can get. They’re essentially the DC Universe equivalent of the Guardians of the Galaxy: they're a ragtag group of good-for-nothings who take on important missions for the government. No word on who Gosling would play (though our money is on Deadshot, the deadly assassin who leads the Suicide Squad and really, really hates Batman). Will Smith, Margot Robbie, and Tom Hardy are also said to be in talks for the movie, which is due out on August 5, 2016.

This isn’t the first time Gosling has toyed with taking on a superhero role. The actor was once in talks to play Green Lantern in the 2011 film of the same name, but the part eventually went to another Canadian Ryan, but this one was of the Reynolds variety. Gosling subsequently joked about playing speedy superhero The Flash, since all the other male Justice League roles were filled, but he maintained that he’s already played a superhero of sorts on the big screen.

“‘Drive’ was my attempt at the superhero movie,” Gosling said in an interview with ScreenCrave last year. “I had a costume and everything. The scorpion jacket. It was like my cape. It was like the idea of a guy that had seen too many superhero movies and then decided that he was going to make himself one.”

Which superheroes will Gosling take on? Doctor Strange or the Suicide Squad? Marvel or DC? Picking sides in this blockbuster showdown has got to be a difficult choice for an actor, but knowing Gosling and his aversion to big budget movies, he may ultimately choose neither. The fact that he’s enjoyed a somewhat cozy relationship with studio Warner Bros. (parent company of DC) in the past, with films like “Crazy, Stupid, Love” and “Gangster Squad,” seems to make Suicide Squad the more likely option, though any decision will likely come down to the quality of the material being offered.

Will he? Won’t he? We’re going to have to wait and see. Which role would you like to see Gosling play?