Ryan Gosling is slated to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2028 as the leather-clad, motorcycle-riding supernatural hero Ghost Rider, according to an announcement made by Marvel at the San Diego Comic-Con.
Marvel Announces Ryan Gosling as Ghost Rider for 2028 MCU Debut
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige officially confirmed the casting during the San Diego Comic-Con. According to Feige, keeping secrets helps maintain surprises for the fanbase, a sentiment he shared before addressing widespread public demand for the supernatural stunt motorcyclist’s arrival in the franchise.
The announcement featured a live reveal orchestrated with movie critic Josh Horowitz. Horowitz engaged Feige on stage to press for details about when audiences would finally see Ryan Gosling take on the role of Ghost Rider. Immediately following the exchange, the convention hall plunged into darkness, displaying glowing red text bearing the character’s name against a bass-heavy soundtrack before Gosling appeared on stage.
Did you know? Ghost Rider first appeared in Marvel comic books in 1967 as a horse-riding Western hero named Carter Slade before evolving into the fiery-skulled Johnny Blaze character in 1972.
Behind the Scenes: Shawn Levy Directs the New Marvel Project
Ryan Gosling expressed enthusiasm during the panel, noting he wanted to play the character for a very long time. According to Gosling, he considered only one director right for the project: Shawn Levy, who is directing Gosling’s upcoming movie, “Star Wars: Starfighter.”
Shawn Levy joined Gosling and Feige on stage, confirming that the actor and director had discussed Ghost Rider concepts while working together on “Star Wars: Starfighter” the previous year. Levy recalled telling Gosling to move forward with the project during their time on set.
Comparing Past and Future Cinematic Adaptations
The upcoming 2028 film marks the return of the character to the big screen after previous adaptations. Nicolas Cage previously starred as Johnny Blaze in the 2007 film adaptation—which also featured Eva Mendes—and reprised the role in a 2011 sequel.
| Actor | Release Year(s) | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nicolas Cage | 2007, 2011 | Played Johnny Blaze in two feature films. |
| Ryan Gosling | 2028 | Official MCU introduction directed by Shawn Levy. |
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Ryan Gosling appear as Ghost Rider in the MCU?
Marvel announced that Ryan Gosling will debut as Ghost Rider in the MCU in 2028.
Who is directing the upcoming Ghost Rider project?
Shawn Levy is set to direct the film, as confirmed by both the director and Gosling at Comic-Con.
Who previously played Ghost Rider in films?
Nicolas Cage starred as Johnny Blaze in feature film adaptations released in 2007 and 2011.