Ryan Gosling's career could have been very different if he'd accepted one offer from another star

A singer of an iconic 00s band has claimed that he invited Ryan Gosling to be a part of it – and it has us all wondering… what if?

Following Gosling’s iconic ‘I’m Just Ken’ performance at the Oscars, it’s made everyone wonder whether he could have made it as a singer himself, if he wasn’t already one of the best actors in the world.

Clearly, there is a different world where that is exactly what happened.

In a recent interview, AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys claims he offered Ryan Gosling a spot in the band back in the 90s, prior to their international debut album leading the band to blow up in 1996.

McLean, speaking to TMZ, said: “He didn’t think it was gonna go anywhere, and then it did.

“He kinda missed the boat, but... [Ryan] when I see you at the gym, let’s exchange numbers. And if we ever want a sixth Backstreet Boy, I’m gonna call you.”

The star of ‘I Want It That Way’ fame went on to imply that he didn’t fulfil his promise, saying ‘Ryan, I am so sorry that I didn’t call you back’.

According to a previous interview with McClean, the Ken actor lived in the same apartment complex during his days as a Disney star.

Getty Images (Mauricio Santa)

McClean told Jimmy Fallon: “Long story short, we used to live in the same apartment complex when he was doing The Mickey Mouse Club.

"Him, Justin [Timberlake], Christina [Aguilera], Britney [Spears], all of them.

"We were playing basketball almost every other day.

"The group had started. I kept telling him how big this was gonna be. And he's like, 'Dude. New Kids [on the Block] already did it. This is never gonna work. Just shoot the ball.'

"Cut to, he was wrong and it did work.

“He's an amazingly talented singer, performer, actor. I wish he'd be in the same room and watch it so we can just squash it.”

Whilst there is a large dose of ‘What If’ – you’d hazard a guess Gosling doesn’t feel the same way.

The actor seems to have the perfect combination of a career – starring in movies equal parts critically acclaimed and financially successful.

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty

Gosling has three Oscar nominations, for Blue Valentine, La La Land, and just recently, for his role as Ken in the Barbie film.

It may not be Backstreet Boys, but getting an Oscar nomination for a film that made over a billion dollars isn’t bad going.

It also isn’t even fair to say that ‘I’m Just Ken’ and La La Land are Gosling’s only musical successes, as fans recently discovered his rock duo ‘Dead Man’s Bones’.

Going under the pseudonym Baby Goose, Gosling and co-creator Zach Shields wrote an album of love songs about ghosts and monsters.

The duo formed after discovering their mutual fascination with the unnatural, with Gosling moving as a child due to his parents thinking their house was haunted, and Shields being put into therapy due to his preoccupation with ghosts.