Ryan Gosling has been nursing a grudge for nearly a decade. Not about an ex, not about a bad script, but about his own left hand. Specifically, the way it looked on the poster for La La Land. The man has been staring at that thing in movie theaters, on streaming thumbnails, and probably on the side of a bus for nine years, quietly fuming about his own palm.
Lionsgate has finally heard his plea. To celebrate the film's tenth anniversary, the studio released an updated poster that fixes the issue Gosling has dubbed "La La Hand." The new version shows Gosling and Emma Stone dancing under the Los Angeles lights, but with one crucial difference: Gosling's hand is now positioned correctly. The energy, as he might say, has been restored.
The hand that launched a thousand gripes
Here's the thing about movie posters: they're forever. You can hate a performance, but eventually the press tour ends. A poster follows you to the grave. Gosling learned this the hard way when a casual photo from the La La Land shoot became the film's official marketing image. In a 2024 interview with WSJ, he explained that the intended pose required both actors to have their hands up in a specific way. Gosling, in a moment of artistic rebellion, flattened his hand instead.
"I thought it would be cool to put my hand [more flat], even though everyone told me it wasn't cool," he said. "I was sure it was cooler. Now when I look at it, and I have to see it all the time, you know, what would've been cooler… [the intended pose]. It just killed the energy that way."
That's the kind of regret that only sets in after you've seen your own face on a billboard for three years. The man has been living with a hand he doesn't believe in, like a guitarist who hates his own riff but has to play it every night.
A decade of dancing, six Oscars, one awkward palm
La La Land is turning ten, which means it's old enough to have its own midlife crisis. The film won six Oscars and seven Golden Globes, following aspiring actress Mia (Stone) and jazz musician Sebastian (Gosling) as they try to make it in Los Angeles. IGN gave it a 9.5 out of 10, calling it a "joyous filmgoing experience" and a "musical brimming with optimism that never becomes treacly." It's the kind of movie that makes you believe in love, dreams, and the importance of hand placement.
The anniversary celebration isn't just about the poster. The film is returning to theaters starting Sunday, August 16, screening in Dolby Cinema at AMC Theaters. That means you can see Gosling's corrected hand on the big screen, in all its properly-angled glory. It's the director's cut of a palm.
From screen to stage
This isn't the only big news for La La Land. The film is also getting a Broadway adaptation, featuring music from Justin Hurwitz and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul — the same trio behind the film's soundtrack. Marc Platt, the film's producer, said he was "thrilled" to bring the story to Broadway, calling it the "next exciting chapter in its evolution."
"We've assembled a world-class team to create a musical that will delight La La Land's millions of current fans and introduce the property to a whole new audience," Platt said.
It's a smart move. The film already feels like a stage musical in the best way, with its sweeping dance numbers and jazz-infused score. A Broadway adaptation is less of a stretch than Gosling's original hand pose. And yes, I'm going to keep coming back to that hand. It's the gift that keeps on giving, like a jazz riff that won't resolve.
The bigger picture (and the smaller hand)
There's something endearing about a movie star holding a grudge against his own body part for a decade. It's a reminder that even Oscar-nominated actors have petty, human hang-ups. Gosling isn't complaining about the script or the director or the catering. He's complaining about his hand, which is both ridiculous and deeply relatable. We've all had that one photo we wish we could retake. Most of us just don't have to see it on a poster every time we walk past a movie theater.
The corrected poster is a small gesture, but it matters. It's the studio admitting that, yes, maybe the hand was wrong. Maybe the actor was right all along. Or maybe they just got tired of hearing about it for nine years. Either way, Gosling can finally rest. His hand is at peace.
The film hits theaters again on August 16, and the Broadway adaptation is in development. No word yet on whether the stage version will feature a hand-corrected dance move. But if Gosling has any say, you can bet it will.
```
Comments (0)
Loading comments…