Mikey Madison Was Right To Turn Down 'Star Wars'

Today's younger movie stars (especially the "not a white guy" variety) should view geek-friendly franchise films, even within once surefire blockbuster brands, as a trap.

Assuming that Daniel Richtman’s reporting is accurate, Disney’s just-announced Star Wars flick is having a little difficulty filling its ranks. Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, has reportedly been turned down by Jesse Plemons, Jodie Comer, Mikey Madison, Sarah Snook, and Greta Lee. The InSneider previously reported that the Best Actress Oscar winner was in talks to join the May 2027 release hours before the trades reported that the Anora star had passed on the project. While the unofficial reason was merely that of the salary being offered for what was allegedly a key supporting role (possibly one of the two key villains allegedly chasing Gosling’s “not Pete Mitchell” protagonist and his teenage nephew), there’s also what joining a Star Wars movie might have meant a decade ago versus what it means now. As Admiral Ackbar once said…

Without arguing that no one should sign up to participate in a new Star Wars or Marvel movie, the notions for why such a gig would appeal to an already promising or established young actor are less tangible than they were even five years ago. If you had asked performers a decade ago what value there was in such a notion (beyond “studio paychecks that don’t bounce and presumed post-theatrical residuals”), it would have boiled down to A) a surefire global success on their resume, B) a higher worldwide profile and thus a presumed bump in butts-in-seats bankability for star vehicles and C) a childhood-dreams-come-true notion of being in an installment of a much-beloved cinematic mythology. Cut to 2025. Those variables now barely apply, while partaking in such a geek-focused franchise is now just as likely to hurt your career as help it.