Ryan Gosling Cast as Ghost Rider in MCU Film Set for 2028
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced the project at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, revealing the actor pitched his own vision for the character.
Ryan Gosling will ride again. At Marvel Studios' Hall H panel during San Diego Comic-Con 2026, president Kevin Feige announced the Oscar-nominated actor will star as Ghost Rider in a new MCU film scheduled for theatrical release in 2028.
A Star-Driven Pitch
Unlike typical Marvel casting announcements, this project originated with Gosling himself. According to Feige, the actor approached the studio with a specific creative vision rooted in particular comic book runs.
"He's a huge fan of the comics. He did come to us, particularly with a specific vision based on some particular comics, but I'll let him unveil that as he wants to," Feige said during the panel.
Shawn Levy, who previously collaborated with Gosling on The Gray Man and The Fall Guy, will direct. Levy described the creative process as organic and enthusiastic.
"As Ryan started talking about his vision for this character, we started riffing... And I finally said, 'Bro, let's ride,'" Levy said.
The Road to Marvel
Gosling's interest in the role emerged recently. During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast in March 2026, while promoting Project Hail Mary, the actor confirmed he had discussed playing Ghost Rider with Marvel Studios. Feige responded positively at the time, saying he would "love to find a place" for the actor in the MCU.
That conversation evolved into today's announcement roughly five months later.
Behind the Script
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Jonathan Tropper is writing the screenplay. Tropper's credits include work on the Star Wars universe, though this marks his first MCU project.
Why This Matters
The Ghost Rider character has existed in cinematic form before—Nicolas Cage starred in two non-MCU films in 2007 and 2011—but this will mark the flaming-skulled antihero's first appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Gosling's A-list status and hands-on creative involvement signal a potential shift in how Marvel integrates legacy comic properties, particularly when talent arrives with fully-formed concepts rather than responding to studio offers.
The film arrives in 2028, positioning it as a cornerstone of whatever phase Marvel Studios is building toward in the late 2020s.