Ryan Gosling to Star as Ghost Rider in Marvel Film Directed by Shawn Levy
Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige announced the casting at San Diego Comic-Con, with the film set for 2028. Gosling will portray Johnny Blaze in the character's first MCU outing.
The announcement
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed the casting on Saturday during the studio's Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con. The news had been the subject of fan speculation for at least a year. Gosling's appearance on stage was teed up by journalist Josh Horowitz, who had repeatedly asked Feige why Gosling had not yet been cast as Ghost Rider. Horowitz participated in the announcement bit, asking the question from the crowd before Feige brought the actor out.
Who is Johnny Blaze?
The supernatural character was created by writer Gary Friedrich and artist Mike Ploog and debuted in 1972's Marvel Spotlight No. 5. Johnny Blaze is a stunt motorcycle driver who sells his soul to the devil Mephisto in an attempt to cure his father's cancer. Though Mephisto heals his father, the man still dies in a stunt accident. Blaze is then bonded with the demon Zarathos, becoming the Ghost Rider: a fiery, skeletal figure who rides a flaming motorcycle, wields chain whips, and can force wrongdoers to experience the pain they have inflicted via the Penance Stare. Several other characters, including Danny Ketch and Robbie Reyes, have also taken on the Ghost Rider mantle in the comics.
Ghost Rider on screen
Nicolas Cage first brought the character to the big screen in Sony's 2007 film Ghost Rider, followed by the 2011 sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. Reviews for both films were mostly negative. After the rights reverted to Marvel, the studio introduced a new version of Ghost Rider on television: Gabriel Luna played Robbie Reyes on ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The new movie is the first feature-length Ghost Rider project since 2011 and the character's debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Nicolas Cage stars in Ghost Rider for Sony
- Cage returns in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance
- Ryan Gosling announced as new Ghost Rider at SDCC
- Gosling's Ghost Rider film scheduled for release
Gosling goes blockbuster
The role marks Gosling's first superhero film after a career that began on The All New Mickey Mouse Club and included three Oscar nominations. More recently, he has taken on big-budget studio projects: he starred in Project Hail Mary earlier in 2026 and will appear in the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, due out May 28, 2027. Gosling and director Shawn Levy worked together on that film, and Levy will now direct Ghost Rider. Levy previously helmed Deadpool & Wolverine for Marvel.
What comes next
The Ghost Rider film is scheduled for release in 2028. No additional casting or plot details were revealed at Comic-Con. The project expands Marvel's supernatural character roster, joining the Blade reboot and the broader multiverse storyline.
