Ryan Gosling to Star in Shawn Levy Ghost Rider Movie

A return for Ghost Rider and Gosling’s involvement had been whispered for at least a year, but the actor’s appearance in Hall H made it real. In recent weeks, journalist Josh Horowitz teased Marvel boss Kevin Feige, asking why Gosling wasn’t yet Ghost Rider. In a full circle moment, Horowitz participated in a comic bit during the panel, asking from the crowd about Gosling. Feige responded by bringing the actor onto the stage.

Addressing the audience, Gosling said, As you know this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a really long time. He added, If we’re really going to do this, there’s only one director who could do this, Gosling teased, only for Feige to reveal that that director is Shawn Levy. Marvel Studios also unveiled the film’s logo during the presentation.

Shawn Levy Directs After Collaboration on Star Wars: Starfighter

The upcoming Ghost Rider project reunites Gosling and Levy. The pair recently wrapped on Star Wars: Starfighter, due out next year. Levy is no stranger to the world of Marvel, most recently directing and producing the blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine film. He and Gosling also recently collaborated on the upcoming “Star Wars” film Star Wars: Starfighter, which Levy also directed and in which Gosling stars. That film is due to release on May 28, 2027.

Gosling said that Levy convinced him to take the role when they were filming Star Wars: Starfighter together. I’m having the greatest flashback vibes here, because I was here two years ago when we showed ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ Levy said upon taking the Hall H stage alongside Gosling and Feige. I’ll never forget that night, because I was introduced to the greatest fans.

History of Ghost Rider on Screen

Ghost Rider hasn’t appeared on film since the 2011 Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance starring Nicolas Cage. The character previously appeared on the big screen in two films starring Nicolas Cage. Ghost Rider has appeared in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before this MCU debut.

San Diego Comic-Con Hall H Announcements

Doomsday is coming. The cast and filmmakers behind the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday (in theaters December 18) took the stage in Hall H, where they treated fans to an exclusive new look at the film and a free giveaway poster. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo were joined by many of the film’s stars, who appeared in the back of the hall on specialized stages — one emblazoned with an X and the other with an Avengers symbol.

Among the cast were Rebecca Romijn, Kelsey Grammer, James Marsden, Lewis Pullman, Tenoch Huerta, David Harbour, Hannah John Kamen, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Simu Liu, Danny Ramirez, Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, Pedro Pascal, Hayley Atwell, Chris Evans, and Robert Downey Jr., all of whom united to take a massive selfie with the crowd. Attendees in the hall also received a Doom mask and cape, which they donned as Downey took the microphone.

In 2024, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige came on the Hall H stage and announced Robert Downey Jr. would be Doctor Doom in the next two Avengers movies — a new big bad taking over Jonathan Majors’s Kang the Conqueror after the studio fired him. The news of Downey’s return to the MCU was seismic on the ground while inspiring a myriad of takes on the state of Marvel since. It didn’t help that amidst that announcement, the MCU had been on a downturn with franchises ending (like Guardians of the Galaxy), new heroes struggling to upstart their own string of films (Eternals, Shang-Chi), and even the better Marvel films of the past decade (Thunderbolts and Fantastic Four: First Steps) have realized they might have to get used to a more comfortable — versus overachieving — box-office return.