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Barbie exposed a lot of people to Ryan Gosling’s comedic abilities, but anyone who’d seen The Nice Guys already knew he had what it takes to excel in that particular realm. Fans of that fairly underappreciated project have spent years pushing for a sequel, but the actor pointed the finger at Angry Birds while explaining why it’s probably not going to happen.
Ryan Gosling has taken a pretty interesting path en route to becoming one of the biggest names in Hollywood. The Mickey Mouse Club alum really burst onto the scene when he starred in The Notebook in 2004, and while he could’ve probably capitalized on his reputation as a heartthrob, he devoted the bulk of the next decade to serious and dramatic roles.
There was one very notable exception in the form of Crazy, Stupid, Love, which was the first real indicator he possessed some comedic chops. However, he really came into his own alongside Russell Crowe in 2016’s The Nice Guys, where he delivered a wildly entertaining performance as a bumbling private investigator with a drinking problem and a fast-talking daughter who keeps him in line.
The Nice Guys grossed around $62 million on a $50 million budget during its theatrical run, but it’s managed to amass a devoted legion of fans who’ve come to appreciate its brilliance after discovering it on streaming. The ending leaves the door open for a sequel, but it doesn’t sound like Gosling thinks it’s going to happen.
During a recent interview with ComicBook, the actor said an animated film about a video game that had peaked in popularity long before the movie was released was ultimately to blame, saying:
“So much of a sequel, I think, is decided by the opening weekend of a movie, and we opened up against Angry Birds. So Angry Birds just destroyed us. Angry Birds got a sequel.”
Damn you, Angry Birds, Damn you to hell.