This stage of Ryan Gosling's acting career is shaping up to be very interesting. The actor has delivered stellar performances in offbeat projects like Barbie and Project Hail Mary, and he's about to tick off two major franchises off the bucket list with Star Wars: Starfighter and Marvel Studios' Ghost Rider.
Deadline (via Toonado.com) has revealed that Gosling and his Open Invite producing partner Jessie Henderson have started developing a live-action Flintstones movie at Warner Bros. The twist? It would revolve around a grown-up Bamm-Bamm Rubble.
In The Flintstones, Bamm-Bamm is the adopted son of Barney and Betty Rubble. Despite being only a toddler, he possesses incredible superhuman strength, frequently swinging his trusty club and causing chaos with his enormous power. Bamm-Bamm is best friends with Pebbles Flintstone, and the pair eventually marry as adults.
He hasn't always been portrayed as a baby, as the character was aged up in the short-lived The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show. He was portrayed as a teenager and hit milestones like landing his first job and joining a band, the Bedrock Rockers.
While not confirmed, it seems highly likely that Gosling will play the adult Bamm-Bamm. If so, this feels like another project for him with that unique Barbie-vibe. We'll have to wait and see, though, as it's clearly very early days for this project (he and Henderson have only just started searching for a writer).
The Flintstones franchise has had a surprisingly eventful history with live-action adaptations. The most famous attempt came with 1994's The Flintstones, directed by Brian Levant and starring John Goodman as Fred Flintstone, Rick Moranis as Barney Rubble, Elizabeth Perkins as Wilma and Rosie O’Donnell as Betty.
Produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, the movie brought Bedrock to life with elaborate sets, practical effects and a star-studded cast. Despite mixed reviews, it was a major box-office success.
A prequel, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, followed in 2000, with Mark Addy and Stephen Baldwin taking over as Fred and Barney, alongside Kristen Johnston and Jane Krakowski as Wilma and Betty. The film focused on the characters' younger years but performed poorly with critics and audiences.
There have also been numerous attempts to develop further live-action projects, including a planned sequel to the 1994 film, though none have reached the big screen. Could this Bamm-Bamm Rubble-led project change that?
At this point, there's no word on a release date, so stay tuned for more on this new take on The Flintstones as we have it.