Eva Mendes Reportedly Joins Ryan Gosling in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ is billed as an all-new standalone adventure with an original story set in a period of time never explored in the franchise. That alone has been enough to keep fans watching every scrap of casting news. Director Shawn Levy’s film is set five years after ‘The Rise of Skywalker.’

The confirmed ensemble includes Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings and Amy Adams. Jonathan Tropper wrote the script, while Levy and Kathleen Kennedy produce. That is a stacked lineup, and the rumor mill has kept churning around it.

Now there may be one more name to add. Knight Edge Media says it can exclusively confirm that Eva Mendes will appear in the film alongside her real-life husband, Gosling. Star Wars Holocron picked up the report on X, noting that Mendes is married to the film’s lead.

The report describes a small part. Mendes is expected to have only a minor role, as an intergalactic cantina owner. That fits earlier chatter. Scooper MakingStarWars previously claimed Mendes plays a glammed-up cantina owner named Belle, and that the character is not human.

Another report described Belle as a 650-year-old alien in a gold dress that would make Leia proud. If that is accurate, it sounds like exactly the kind of colorful cameo a Star Wars cantina scene was made for. It would also be a long way from the role first rumored for her.

When filming began, scooper DanielRPK claimed Mendes would play the wife of Gosling’s character. The cantina-owner version has since overtaken that rumor. Either way, the reports agree that Mendes is in.

The caveat is that Lucasfilm hasn’t said a word. The studio has not confirmed Mendes’ casting or any details about her character. Her name never appeared in the official cast announcement.

This would be a notable return, because Mendes has been largely away from the screen for years. Her last feature film was ‘Lost River’ in 2014, following ‘The Place Beyond the Pines’ in 2012. Gosling wrote and directed ‘Lost River.’

She has largely stepped back from acting since starting a family with Gosling. She did lend her voice to an episode of ‘Bluey’ in 2021. A live-action turn in a Star Wars film would be a rare treat for longtime fans.

Some viewers may hope this leads to more projects with her husband, but not every rumor is lining up that way. Levy is also directing ‘Ghost Rider,’ but Mendes isn’t expected to follow Gosling there. Knight Edge Media’s sources say she isn’t expected to return as reporter Roxanne Simpson from the 2007 original, though that could change.

For now, the cameo is a quiet bit of family-affair casting with a lot of fan appeal. ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ is set to arrive in theaters on May 28, 2027. Until then, expect more leaks, more speculation and plenty of watching for a gold dress in the background.