“Coolest Show In The World”: Ryan Gosling’s Reaction To Barbie Co-Star’s Doctor Who Casting Has Big Kenergy
Ryan Gosling responds with strong Kenergy, as Ncuti Gatwa recalls his Barbie co-star’s reaction when he got the part of the Fifteenth Doctor.
Ncuti Gatwa reveals how his Barbie co-star Ryan Gosling reacted to the news of his Doctor Who casting. Gatwa is the latest actor to take on the role of the renegade Time Lord from Gallifrey and will play the fifteenth incarnation following David Tennant’s brief return to the character. Before taking over the TARDIS console in the fall of 2023, Gatwa and Gosling will portray unique versions of Ken in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of the beloved Mattel toy line, Barbie.
With Gatwa set to star in Doctor Who, Sex Education, and Barbie in 2023, the actor opened up to Vogue UK about a surprising moment following his Doctor Who casting announcement in May 2022. As Gatwa was filming Barbie when news broke of his casting as the Fifteenth Doctor, the actor recalled that Gosling had an enthusiastic response to his casting outside of his trailer that left Gatwa stunned. Check out Gatwa’s full recollection below:
“I remember Ryan Gosling bounding up to my trailer like, ‘Doctor Who is the coolest show in the world man! I’m the biggest fan,’. And I was like, ‘What the hell?’ This show has incredible reach.”
Ryan Gosling Has Been One Of Ncuti Gatwa’s Most Surprising Supporters Following His Doctor Who Casting
Gosling’s portrayal of Ken in Barbie is already one of the film’s most highly anticipated elements, as unofficial set videos, trailers, and promotional materials have already endeared Ken to the internet. Gosling’s Ken has been shown to be naive but good-natured, allowing the actor to play a more comedic role that stands out from his recent action-oriented and dramatic performances in movies, including Blade Runner 2049 and The Gray Man. However, Doctor Who fans quickly noticed a surprising glimpse at Gosling’s support for his co-star and the show he would lead as Barbie continued filming.
As production on Barbie continued following Gatwa’s casting, the actor shared a photo of Gosling wearing an unofficial Doctor Who shirt depicting the Fifteenth Doctor actor throughout location filming, leading to fans being stunned by Gosling’s dedication and support of the show and his co-star. Returning showrunner Russell T Davies also shared his surprised reaction to Gosling’s Gatwa shirt design before joking that the shirt’s unofficial origins may spark legal troubles. Gosling’s support for Gatwa created more anticipation about the actor joining the show, as audiences have grown more eager to see Gatwa’s full debut in a seasonal episode in 2023.
Gosling’s Doctor Who recognition took the fandom by surprise in 2022, and it is clear by Gatwa’s recollection that the new Doctor himself had a similar reaction. Not only have fans enjoyed seeing Gatwa receive encouraging words from those who’ve worked with him, but Gosling’s declaration of his Doctor Who fandom emphasizes how far the franchise has reached in its 60-year run. With Gatwa set to lead the show into a new era with his 2023 debut and 2024’s season 14, Gosling’s response heartens the anticipation for the long-awaited sci-fi show.
