Ryan Gosling’s Arcana launches with ‘The Favourite’
Ryan Gosling and Ken Kao have announced the launch of their own film and television production company, Arcana. The first project from Arcana is set to be Yorgos Lanthimos’ The Favourite, written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, with principal photography having recently wrapped in the UK. The Favourite, a “bawdy, acerbic tale of royal intrigue, passion, envy, and betrayal” set in 18th-century England, follows political machinations during the reign of Queen Anne, last monarch of the House of Stuarts. Lanthimos’ latest feature The Killing of a Sacred Deer competed for the Palme d’Or at last month’s Cannes Film Festival. Despite missing out on the main prize, the director later snagged a Best Screenplay award. Gosling has roped in his La La Land co-star and Academy Award-winning actress Emma Stone to lead the cast, rounded out by Rachel Weisz (The Mummy, Constantine, The Fountain), Olivia Colman (The Iron Lady, Locke, The Lobster), and Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road, Warm Bodies, About a Boy). Arcana have partnered with Film4, Fox Searchlight, Scarlet Films and Element Pictures to produce the flick. International sales for the film are being considered on a case-by-case basis. Gosling and Kao previously collaborated on Shane Black’s buddy comedy The Nice Guys and Song to Song from Terrence Malick. The pair recently announced they had acquired the rights to Jeff Lemire’s graphic novel The Underwater Welder, with plans to develop alongside Anonymous Content. Kao will continue to run his Waypoint Entertainment production label, as well as production company BLOOM with partner Alex Walton. Waypoint announced earlier this year it had picked up rights to Plutona, also from Lemire, along with Mark Millar’s American Jesus and Supercrooks. (Between you and us, we reckon he’s a bit of a comics fan.)
Release Timeline
The Favourite premiered at the Venice Film Festival on August 30, 2018. The US theatrical release arrived November 23, 2018, followed by the UK and Ireland rollout on January 1, 2019. Fox Searchlight handled domestic distribution, positioning the film for awards season visibility from the start.
Production Partners and Credits
Final credits list Scarlet Films, Element Pictures, Arcana, Film4 Productions, and Waypoint Entertainment as the core production entities. Fox Searchlight managed US release, while international sales moved through a targeted approach that matched the partners’ prior festival strategies.
Critical and Awards Reception
The Favourite earned ten Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, with Olivia Colman taking home the Best Actress prize. It also captured the Grand Jury Prize and the Volpi Cup for Best Actress at Venice, plus multiple BAFTA, BIFA, and European Film Awards. Critics highlighted the sharp ensemble work and Lanthimos’ controlled direction as standout elements.
Box Office Performance
Worldwide earnings reached roughly $96 million against a $15 million budget. Limited release per-screen averages stayed strong in major markets, helping the film expand without heavy marketing spend. The numbers reflected steady word-of-mouth among audiences drawn to period drama with a modern edge.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
The film landed on AFI’s list of the top ten releases of 2018. Later rankings placed it among the stronger entries of the twenty-first century, citing its blend of historical detail and caustic humor. Its influence shows in subsequent prestige titles that mix court intrigue with dark comedy.
Arcana's Subsequent Activity
Arcana was co-founded by Gosling and Kao in 2017. Producer profiles through 2025 continue to reference the company alongside Waypoint Entertainment, confirming its role in their ongoing slate. Kao maintains oversight of both labels while expanding partnerships that build on the launch momentum first signaled with The Favourite.
