Marvel Studios confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25 that Ryan Gosling will play Ghost Rider in a new film directed by Shawn Levy, ending years of fan speculation about the actor taking on the role. The movie is set for a 2028 release, and it marks Ghost Rider’s first appearance inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe proper.
How the Announcement Happened
The reveal came during Marvel’s Hall H panel, a slot fans reportedly lined up for more than a day to attend. Studio president Kevin Feige set up the moment by responding to a question from the crowd about Gosling, then brought the actor on stage to a revving motorcycle sound cue. “Wow, is this really happening?” Gosling told the crowd, adding that the character is one he’s wanted to play for a long time.
Levy joined him on stage shortly after. The two are already working together on Star Wars: Starfighter, due in theaters May 28, 2027, and Levy said they spent downtime on that set trading ideas for a potential Ghost Rider film long before it was officially greenlit.
Who Is Ghost Rider?
Ghost Rider, real name Johnny Blaze, was created by writer Gary Friedrich and artist Mike Ploog, first appearing in Marvel Spotlight #5 in 1972. The character is a stunt motorcyclist who strikes a deal with a demonic entity and is transformed into a fiery vigilante known as the Spirit of Vengeance.
The role has appeared on screen twice before. Nicolas Cage played Blaze in two Sony-produced films, 2007’s Ghost Rider and 2011’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, which together grossed more than $361 million worldwide. A different iteration of the character, Robbie Reyes, was played by Gabriel Luna on the TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; a planned spinoff series for that version was cancelled before it aired. Gosling’s film will be the character’s first outing under Marvel Studios’ own banner rather than Sony or a TV tie-in.
Why This Casting Has Fans Excited
Gosling had been coy about the role for months. In an earlier podcast appearance, he was asked whether he’d discussed the part with Feige and said only that talks were “alive,” calling it “a complicated situation.” That guarded response, paired with years of fan campaigns pushing for him to play the character, helped build anticipation for Saturday’s reveal.
Levy’s involvement adds another layer of interest. He directed last year’s Deadpool & Wolverine for Marvel, and this new project makes Ghost Rider his second major MCU film alongside his ongoing collaboration with Gosling on the Star Wars spinoff.
What’s Next
Marvel hasn’t released plot details, additional casting, or a title beyond “Ghost Rider,” and the studio has given no further specifics ahead of the 2028 release. In the meantime, audiences will see Gosling and Levy’s other project together, Star Wars: Starfighter, arrive in theaters first, in May 2027.
