Channing Tatum recently addressed why he turned down Ryan Gosling’s iconic role in the film Blue Valentine, confessing he was “absolutely terrified” of the role. The 2010 romantic drama features Gosling and Michelle Williams in the lead roles. The film was directed by Derek Cianfrance, who has also directed the upcoming crime comedy movie, Roofman, starring Tatum.
Channing Tatum talks about role that Ryan Gosling took
The Blink Twice star recently spoke about Ryan Gosling’s iconic performance in the 2010 film Blue Valentine and why he declined the role.
On September 7, at the Toronto International Film Festival, Channing Tatum confessed that he turned it down because he was “absolutely terrified” of it. He shared that Derek (Cianfrance) believed in him much more than he believed in himself.
Tatum further added that he couldn’t go on that journey and was scared. “I was absolutely terrified of that role specifically, and I didn’t go,” he confessed candidly. (via People)
Moreover, according to Variety, director Derek Cianfrance was impressed with Tatum’s performance in the 2006 film, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. He believed the 45-year-old actor possessed a “Marlon Brando–like physicality that could tell stories” on celluloid.
Interestingly, Channing Tatum also confessed that he didn’t initially remember declining Blue Valentine, perhaps as a coping mechanism. He revealed that it was Cianfrance who reminded him of the rejection. Elaborating on his stance, Tatum said that at the time, he was young and inexperienced. He had not experienced a romance as intense and mature as shown in the film.
The Magic Mike star told Variety, “I think I blocked it out because I probably, on some level, regret it. When I really look back on that moment, I was scared of it, because I hadn’t really lived it.”
However, Tatum heaped praise on Ryan Gosling, who eventually essayed the role of Dean Pereira in Blue Valentine. The latter received critical acclaim for the same and even bagged a Golden Globe Award nomination.
Meanwhile, Channing Tatum’s new film, Roofman, directed by Derek Cianfrance, releases on October 10, 2025.
