Wait, Ryan Gosling Was Almost a Backstreet Boy?

Welp, holy shit. In a recent interview, America's heartthrob Ryan Gosling admitted that he had a chance to join the Backstreet Boys back in the day, but turned it down because he thought they were a ripoff of New Kids On the Block. Turns out he used to be neighbors with A.J. McLean of the Boys right when the band was forming, and Gosling—then a teenaged song-and-dance man as well as a member of the Mickey Mouse Club along with Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears and a zillion other future stars—was offered a slot in the group.

Said Gosling of the missed opportunity, "You can't live in the past, man. That ship has sailed. They're not returning my calls."

In an interview with TMZ, A.J. McLean is deeply sorry they didn't end up taking Gosling on, and said that next time they're at the gym they should exchange numbers.

Below is footage of Gosling performing on The Mickey Mouse Club along with Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez.

IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN.