Before Ryan Gosling Joined The MCU, Partner Eva Mendes Starred In Nicolas Cage's Ghost Rider

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rumours of Ryan Gosling joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) were put to rest at Hall H in San Diego on July 25 as the Project Hail Mary star was finally confirmed as the new Ghost Rider. The actor is a big fan of the character and had been lobbying to be a part of the project for several years now. However, movie buffs would know that Gosling's partner Eva Mendes already beat him to the punch, as she starred as Nicolas Cage's love interest in the 2007 film. Now that Gosling is officially on board, fans are pointing out the connection between the long-time couple.

DYK Eva Mendes starred in Ghost Rider before Ryan Gosling?

After Gosling was revealed as the new Johnny Blaze at the San Diego Comic-Con 2026, netizens took to X to point out that Mendes had already acted in Nicolas Cage's Ghost Rider. Mendes and Gosling have been together since 2011 and have two daughters; they've kept their relationship private from the public and press. One journalist pointed out that it was "funny" that Eva Mendes starred in a Ghost Rider film before her significant other Gosling. While a fan commented, "Eva being in the first Ghost Rider just for Ryan to end up as the new Ghost Rider years later… sorry but this is specifically designed to make me insane."

Written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson, the first Ghost Rider was released before the MCU in 2007. It was a Columbia Pictures production that launched Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze, aka Ghost Rider. Mendes played news reporter Roxanne Simpson, who also happens to be Johnny's childhood sweetheart and girlfriend. She did not return for the 2011 sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, co-directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, which saw Cage reprising his role.

More about Gosling's MCU entry and Ghost Rider

Gosling will be reuniting with his Star Wars: Starfighter director Shawn Levy on the new Ghost Rider film. It is set to release in 2028. After his announcement, the Barbie actor told Hall H, "As you know, this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a very long time."

This will be Gosling's first superhero role even though he has been a part of several blockbusters before. Levy's and Gosling's new Star Wars film, Starfighter, is releasing on May 28, 2027. The character of the Ghost Rider was created in 1972. Johnny Blaze is a stunt motorcycle rider who makes a deal with the devil and becomes a spirit of vengeance as he becomes bonded with a demon named Zatharos.