New Delhi: Ryan Gosling is officially entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC)
that the Oscar-nominated actor will headline a standalone Ghost Rider film, with Shawn Levy attached as director.
The announcement was made during Marvel’s Hall H presentation, where Feige, Levy and Gosling appeared together to unveil the project. The film is slated for a 2028 theatrical release.
Ryan Gosling to play Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider will mark Gosling’s first role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor will portray the iconic anti-hero, becoming the latest star to take on the mantle after Nicolas Cage and Gabriel Luna.
Addressing fans at SDCC, Levy reflected on his previous Hall H appearance while promoting Deadpool & Wolverine before praising Gosling.
“I’m having the greatest flashback vibes here, because I was here two years ago when we showed Deadpool & Wolverine,” Levy said.
Speaking about working with Gosling, he added, “We spent a lot of time last year making Starfighter, and the opportunity as Ryan started talking about this character, I was like, ‘Bro, let’s ride.’ We’ll see you in 2028!”
Levy recently directed and produced Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine and also teamed up with Gosling on the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter.
Ghost Rider’s journey on screen
Before Gosling’s casting, Nicolas Cage portrayed Johnny Blaze in Sony’s Ghost Rider (2007) and its 2011 sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. While both films received mixed-to-negative reviews, the character remained a fan favourite.
Gabriel Luna later played Robbie Reyes, another version of Ghost Rider, in Marvel’s television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. A planned standalone series centred on Luna’s character was eventually shelved.
Created by Marvel Comics, Ghost Rider is best known as the Spirit of Vengeance, a supernatural vigilante with a flaming skull, immense strength and the terrifying Penance Stare, which forces wrongdoers to experience the pain they have inflicted on others.
