Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell to Star in Action-Comedy ‘Tough Guys’ — A Comeback for Ferrell?

Ryan Gosling and Will Ferrell are set to co-star in “Tough Guys,” an action-comedy at Amazon MGM Studios.

Per Deadline, the project comes from a spec script by Daniel Gold and revolves around two veteran henchmen who’ve finally had enough of their lives of crime. They break free and try to start over. No director is currently attached.

It’s an interesting pairing: Gosling, fresh off his Oscar-nominated turn in “Barbie,” and last year’s ‘Fall Guy,’ teaming with Ferrell, whose post-“Step Brothers” career trajectory has been anything but smooth.

Let’s be honest, Ferrell hasn’t had a true hit in 15 years. He’s struggled to recapture that magic. “Land of the Lost,” “Anchorman 2,” “The Campaign,” “Casa de mi Padre,” “Get Hard,” “The House,” both “Daddy’s Home” entries, and “Holmes & Watson” either fizzled at the box office, bombed with critics, or both. (“The House” and “Daddy’s Home” are better than their reputations suggest, but they never reached classic status.)

What happened?

Ferrell’s trademark man-child persona, the loud, clueless, emotionally-stunted blowhard, was uniquely suited to the 2000s bro-comedy era, a moment that has long since passed. Comedy evolves. Audiences evolve. Ferrell’s comic sensibilities, which once felt anarchic and fresh, may now feel out of step in a landscape that prizes irony.

But maybe pairing him with Gosling , whose comedic timing is razor-sharp (check out “The Nice Guys”), is the key. “Tough Guys” could be the reset Ferrell needs. It’s still early. No director. No release date. But it’s the first time in a while a Will Ferrell project had potential.