Bradley Cooper is currently undergoing a career transformation. Cooper has been searching for that illustrious Oscar. Now, he’s smartly moving more toward Ryan Gosling‘s Hollywood formula.
Cooper’s next major move will be an action blockbuster. Cooper has signed on to headline Paramount’s live-action G.I. Joe movie, which is directed by Danny McBride. Cooper will play Duke, the leader of the military unit and a beloved character from the ’80s cartoon.
A decade ago, Cooper probably would have never been in a G.I. Joe movie. Now, Cooper’s recent career choices mirror Gosling’s pivot, which unlocks another level of movie stardom.
Bradley Cooper picking more commercial movies mirrors Ryan Gosling’s last five yearsSince 2012, the majority of Cooper’s movies have been prestige plays with Oscar ambitions. And yes, he voiced Rocket Raccoon in the MCU and appeared in The Hangover Part III during that time. But those roles became exceptions, not the norm.
To Cooper’s credit, he’s carved out a path as a well-respected actor and filmmaker. Cooper has received critical acclaim for his work, resulting in 12 Oscar nominations: five for acting, five for producing, and two for writing. Hollywood clearly believes Cooper is one of the top talents in the business.
The thing with prestige plays is that they limit the types of movies you can make. Part of being a true movie star is mixing the Oscar-driven parts with the blockbusters. Sometimes, they can be both.
Gosling’s new formula for movie stardom involves starring in popular and crowd-pleasing movies that sometimes receive critical acclaim. Gosling used to star in gritty dramas, smart comedies, and awards-driven movies.
Gosling’s approach has completely shifted this decade. Since 2022, Gosling has starred in The Gray Man, Barbie, The Fall Guy, and Project Hail Mary. His next two projects are Star Wars: Starfighter and Ghost Rider. Those are all popcorn movies meant to attract a huge audience. However, Gosling has shown that by picking the right blockbuster, you can also receive critical acclaim. Gosling received an Oscar nomination for Barbie, and he might pick up one for Project Hail Mary.
Cooper has started to shift more toward the Gosling model. He starred in, directed, and co-wrote 2025’s Is This Thing On?, a small comedy that garnered Cooper praise for his direction. Cooper’s next movie is the Ocean’s Eleven prequel, where he will star alongside Margot Robbie. Ironically, the Ocean’s Eleven prequel was going to star Gosling before he dropped out. Cooper is also writing and directing the prequel. That is a summer blockbuster searching for both critical and financial success. Now with G.I. Joe, Cooper is pivoting to an action franchise.
Being a movie star is all about balance. You can star in a movie to win Oscars, but you can also headline a blockbuster that makes hundreds of millions of dollars. Cooper has been focused on the prestige plays. However, he’s been lost in that world for a decade and needs to show the world that A-list charm again. I’m glad he’s adding more commercial plays to his resume.
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