Ryan Gosling to play Ghost Rider in Marvel's new film: All you need to know

Published 26 July 2026 · entertainment

Hollywood star Ryan Gosling will star in Marvel Studios’ new standalone Ghost Rider film. Marvel Studios executive Kevin Feige made the announcement on stage in

Hollywood star Ryan Gosling will star in Marvel Studios’ new standalone Ghost Rider film. Marvel Studios executive Kevin Feige made the announcement on stage in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con. The film will be directed by Shawn Levy and is slated for release in 2028. The announcement brings Gosling into Marvel as the latest actor to take on Ghost Rider, one of the most recognisable supernatural characters. Levy recently directed and produced Marvel’s blockbuster Deadpool & Wolverine. He is now reuniting with the 45-year-old actor after working with him on the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, which is due to release on May 28, 2027. Read Full Story Levy joined Gosling and Feige on the Hall H stage and spoke about returning to the event after the Deadpool & Wolverine presentation two years ago.

“I’m having the greatest flashback vibes here, because I was here two years ago when we showed Deadpool & Wolverine,’” Levy said. “I’ll never forget that night, because I was introduced to the greatest fans. Gosling is the absolute shit. I say that with tremendous respect. 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!” Ghost Rider enters the MCU Ryan Gosling will star in Marvel Studios' Ghost Rider, directed by Shawn Levy. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/MR2HJww2Wg— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 26, 2026 Ghost Rider on screen Gosling will become the second actor to play the Spirit of Vengeance in a film.

Nicolas Cage previously played the flaming motorcycle rider in two Sony films. Cage first starred in Ghost Rider in 2007 as motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze. In the comics and in the film’s origin story, Johnny sells his soul to the devil Mephisto to cure his father’s cancer. Mephisto cures his father, but he still dies in a stunt accident. Johnny then becomes bonded to a supernatural demon known as the Spirit of Vengeance and can transform into a flaming skeletal biker. The character also has super-strength, uses fiery chain whips and can make people feel the emotional pain they have inflicted on others through the Penance Stare. Cage returned for the 2011 sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, though both films received mostly negative reviews.

Marvel’s later version After the rights reverted to Marvel Studios, the character was reworked for the ABC series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Gabriel Luna played the Robbie Reyes version, a younger Latino man who takes on the Ghost Rider mantle. Luna was later set to reprise the role in a standalone Hulu series, but that project was scrapped in 2019. Gosling’s casting adds another major project to a busy period for the actor after Project Hail Mary. Ends