Deep breath, Tumblr. “Doctor Who” and Ryan Gosling are about to meet, as Variety reports the Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, has landed the male lead role in Gosling’s directorial debut, “How to Catch a Monster”, which will also mark his US acting debut.

Gosling’s “Drive” co-star Christina Hendricks plays the lead character in the film, which is “set against the surreal dreamscape of a vanishing city.” Hendricks plays “a single mother of two being swept into a macabre and dark fantasy underworld while her teenage son discovers a secret road leading to an underwater town.” Gosling’s real life squeeze and “Place Beyond the Pines” co-star Eva Mendes is also part of the cast, though there’s no word on if Gosling will appear on camera. What a waste if he doesn’t, right?! Filming is slated to begin this spring.

Smith began his acting career where many British thesps do: on the stage, where he has appeared in plays including “The History Boys”, “That Face” and “Swimming with Sharks.” He landed the role of the eleventh “Doctor Who” in 2009, taking over for David Tennant.