Ryan Gosling Cast as Ghost Rider in Marvel Cinematic Universe
Shawn Levy to direct 2028 film, marking a significant addition to the MCU's anti-hero roster.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Carla Rooney
Ryan Gosling will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ghost Rider, with the film slated for a 2028 release.
Marvel Studios confirmed Ryan Gosling will assume the titular role in the new Ghost Rider film, an announcement delivered at San Diego Comic-Con that sets the stage for a major cinematic event.
Shawn Levy, known for directing Gosling in 'Star Wars: Starfighter,' will helm the project, signaling a reunion for the actor and director.
Ghost Rider embodies the anti-hero identity of Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stuntman who becomes bound to the Spirit of Vengeance Zarathos after forging a pact with Mephisto.
This film represents the third cinematic iteration featuring the character; Nicolas Cage previously starred in the 2007 film and its 2011 follow-up, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.
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.
Levy confirmed the collaboration, stating, '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.'
The casting definitively rules out Nicolas Cage from reprising the role, despite Cage previously voicing Spider-Man Noir in the animated Spider-Man film series.
Gabriel Luna previously portrayed Ghost Rider in the television series Agents of SHIELD, offering a distinct interpretation of the character.
Gosling's interpretation will feature him playing the original incarnation of the superhero, an approach that promises a return to the character's foundational elements.
The actor's involvement follows his abrupt exit from a film helmed by the Oscar-winning directors of 2022's Everything Everywhere All at Once; scheduling conflicts reportedly precipitated his departure.
That project, now without the Project Hail Mary star, is set to premiere in late 2027, a timeline preceding Gosling's Marvel commitment.
Eva Mendes, Gosling's partner, met him on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines in 2011.
Plot details for the new Marvel Studios' Ghost Rider project remain unknown, as the studio maintains tight control over narrative specifics.
The film's release is officially scheduled for 2028; an earlier, unspecified claim indicated a late 2027 premiere for the different project Gosling exited, creating a clear distinction in his professional calendar.