SAN ANTONIO — Shea Serrano has written books about popular Millennial sitcoms, hip-hop, basketball, fictional action heroes, and which movies would or wouldn't be better if The Rock starred in them.
Now the San Antonio native and New York Times bestselling author has zeroed in on one of Hollywood's hottest stars for his latest project, the digital book "A Real Human Being." Released on Tuesday, it explores the evolution of three-time Oscar nominee (and newly minted rock ballad crooner) Ryan Gosling through nine pivotal roles, from "The Notebook" to "Barbie."
"He's just such a compelling, captivating actor," Serrano told KENS 5 in an email interview. "He can do any sort of role you throw at him, really. He's good in drama, he's good in comedies, he's good in artsy stuff and he's good in big Hollywood-spectacle stuff."
"A Real Human Being" originated as a deep-dive into heist movies, research for which led Serrano to rewatch the 2012 thriller "The Place Beyond the Pines," in which Gosling stars as a moody stunt rider moonlighting as a bank robber.
A Gosling binge ensued, and Serrano eventually changed course for what would become his first full-length effort focused on one actor.
The book takes its name from a song featured in "Drive," the 2011 L.A. noir that cemented Gosling as, in Serrano's words, "an everlasting pop culture figure." It took about seven months for the author to write, and it's available to buy now through Serrano's own HALFWAY BOOKS, releasing hot off the opening weekend of his subject's latest movie, the action/romcom "The Fall Guy."
Among the other Gosling roles Serrano's book explores: Jared Bennett, the scheming market trader from "The Big Short"; Holland March, the buffoon detective from "The Nice Guys"; and Seb Wilder, the piano-playing dreamer in "La La Land."
"I just tried to find spots in his career that felt like flagpole moments," said Serrano.
Serrano's books are as notable for his accessible, entertaining writing as for their art. For "A Real Human Being" he teamed up with Ian Klarer, whose "cool and sophisticated and expensive" style fit the project. The result: vivid illustrations of each Gosling character featured in the book, right down to patriarchy-worshiping Ken's smirk to Holland March's ruffled '70s look.
At the core of the book is an appreciation for the various genres Gosling has slipped into and made himself at home in, whether it be smoldering romance, throwback comedy or big-budget musical. Asked about the part he'd like to see Gosling try out, Serrano references when the Canadian actor played a safety on "Remember the Titans" when he was just a teen—and suggests he could now play the one roaming the sidelines.
"Now that he's older and stronger and has a really good grasp on who he is as an actor, I would love to see him in a high school football movie where he's the coach," he said. "He's been a teacher before, but he's never been a coach. Get that man a whistle and a playbook."
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