Marvel Studios has officially cast Ryan Gosling as the title character in a new Ghost Rider movie scheduled for a 2028 theatrical release.

• The Announcement: Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige surprised fans at San Diego Comic-Con by bringing Ryan Gosling on stage to unveil the project.
• The Creative Team: Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) will direct the film, reteaming with Gosling following their work on Star Wars: Starfighter.
• MCU Franchise Debuts: The 2028 release marks Ghost Rider’s official entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following previous non-MCU adaptations starring Nicolas Cage in 2007 and 2011.

Ryan Gosling Takes the Reins as Johnny Blaze

SAN DIEGO — The Marvel Cinematic Universe is adding some serious firepower to its lineup. In a surprise panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige put an end to years of casting rumors by revealing that Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling will suit up as the legendary motorcycle-riding anti-hero Ghost Rider.

Before making the big reveal on stage at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said he had often been asked when Gosling would join the MCU. Shortly after, the lights turned off. When they returned, the actor appeared on stage to cheers from screaming fans.

Speaking about the role, Gosling said: “Wow, is this really happening?”

Gosling added during the surprise announcement that it is a character he has “wanted to play for a very long time”.

He has previously spoken about his desire to take on the role. Appearing on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast in March, he confirmed he was in discussions with Marvel.

Bringing the Spirit of Vengeance to the MCU

Ghost Rider is the anti-hero identity of motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze. The character’s story begins when he becomes bound to the Spirit of Vengeance Zarathos after making a deal with villain Mephisto to spare his surrogate father, giving him superpowers.

Slated to hit theaters in 2028, the upcoming film will mark the third big-screen iteration of the character. It will follow the 2007 film of the same name starring Nicolas Cage, and its follow-up, 2011’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.

Directed by Shawn Levy

The film will be directed by Shawn Levy, who Gosling described as the “only” director for the project.

Levy has previously directed Deadpool & Wolverine in the MCU, and is currently working with Gosling on Star Wars: Starfighter, which is due to be released next year.

Levy told the crowd that he and Gosling spent a lot of their downtime on set daydreaming about Ghost Rider and swapping ideas.

The director said: “As Ryan started talking about his vision for this character, we started riffing, and I finally said, ‘bro, let’s ride’, so guys, we’ll see you in 2028.”

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