A decade after its initial release, the celebrated musical romance La La Land is back in the spotlight, not just for its enduring charm, but for a subtle yet significant alteration to its iconic promotional material. Lionsgate, the film's distributor, has released a new poster to mark the movie's 10th anniversary, featuring a 'corrected' version of Ryan Gosling's hand in his famous dance pose with co-star Emma Stone. This 'minor adjustment' comes after years of the actor expressing his personal aversion to the original pose.
Gosling's discontent with what he dubbed his 'La La Hand' has been well-documented. In a 2024 interview, he revealed that the pose 'haunts' him, explaining that he had deviated from choreographers' advice during filming by bending his wrist, believing it would look 'cool'. He later came to regret the decision, especially after the image became the centrepiece of the film's global marketing campaign. Lionsgate Executive Vice President Justin Manfredi confirmed that Gosling was informed of the poster change and 'approved it', adding that the actor was pleased to finally see the pose rectified.
The original poster depicted Gosling with a slightly bent wrist, contrasting with Stone's perfectly straight arm. For many fans, this seemingly minor detail had become a distinctive characteristic of the poster, interpreted by some as a subtle reflection of the characters' individual paths or even as a 'flourish' of individuality. The revision has ignited a lively debate online, with some expressing dismay at the 'revisionism' of film history, while others understand Gosling's desire to correct a detail that bothered him for so long.
La La Land, directed by Damien Chazelle, captivated audiences worldwide upon its release in 2016. The film, a love letter to classic Hollywood musicals, tells the story of an aspiring actress and a jazz musician who fall in love while pursuing their dreams in Los Angeles. It was a major critical and commercial success, earning six Academy Awards, including Best Director for Chazelle and Best Actress for Emma Stone. It also secured five BAFTA Awards, notably for Best Film and Best Actress.
The film is widely available for streaming in the UK across various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, and Apple TV, with rental and purchase options. Its soundtrack, featuring popular songs like 'City of Stars' and 'Audition (The Fools Who Dream)', also achieved significant success, earning a Golden Globe for Best Original Score.