Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige made the high-voltage announcement on stage during the studio's Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), flanked by Gosling and director Shawn Levy. The standalone film is officially set for a theatrical release in 2028.
The Hall H Reveal: "A Character I've Wanted to Play for a Long Time"
The announcement was preceded by the sound of a roaring motorcycle engine echoing through Hall H before Gosling took the stage alongside Feige and Levy.
Gosling, who has publicly named Ghost Rider as his dream superhero role in multiple interviews over the past few years, expressed his enthusiasm to the cheering audience:
"Wow. Is this really happening? As you know, this is a character I've wanted to play for a very long time." — Ryan Gosling
Director Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine), who recently wrapped production with Gosling on Star Wars: Starfighter, shared how their collaboration came together:
"We spent a lot of time last year making Starfighter, and the opportunity as Ryan started talking about this character, I was like, 'Bro, let's ride.' We'll see you in 2028!" — Shawn Levy
Passing the Flame: From Nicolas Cage to Ryan Gosling
Gosling becomes the second actor to play Johnny Blaze on the big screen, succeeding Nicolas Cage, who starred in Sony's Ghost Rider (2007) and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011).
The Eva Mendes Connection: In a fun piece of trivia quickly noted by fans online, Gosling's longtime partner, Eva Mendes, starred opposite Nicolas Cage in the original 2007 Ghost Rider film as Johnny Blaze's love interest, Roxanne Simpson.
Television Iterations: While Gabriel Luna played the Robbie Reyes version of Ghost Rider in Season 4 of ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Gosling’s 2028 feature marks the official cinematic entry of the Spirit of Vengeance into the core MCU line-up.
Trade Verdict:
Landing an actor of Ryan Gosling's pedigree alongside proven blockbuster hitmaker Shawn Levy gives Marvel Studios a powerful new anchor for its supernatural slate. Positioned alongside Black Panther 3 for 2028, Ghost Rider promises to bring a darker, hellfire-fueled edge to the MCU.
