Ryan Gosling to play Ghost Rider in new Marvel film set for 2028

MUMBAI: Marvel has found its new flame and Ryan Gosling is ready to hit the road. The Oscar-nominated actor is officially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Ghost Rider, with Marvel Studios announcing at San Diego Comic-Con that the motorcycle-riding anti-hero will return to the big screen in 2028.

The surprise reveal was one of the biggest moments at this year’s convention, ending years of fan speculation about Gosling’s potential MCU debut.

Before introducing the actor, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige joked that one of the questions he is asked most often is when Gosling would join the MCU. Moments later, the auditorium lights dimmed, only for the actor to walk on stage to a roaring reception from fans.

Taking the stage, Gosling acknowledged the long-awaited casting with a smile, telling the audience it was a character he had “wanted to play for a very long time.”

The upcoming film will be the third standalone Ghost Rider movie, following the 2007 original and 2011’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, both of which starred Nicolas Cage as the supernatural anti-hero.

Ghost Rider follows the story of Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stuntman who becomes bonded with the Spirit of Vengeance, Zarathos, after striking a deal with the demon Mephisto to save his surrogate father. The pact transforms him into Marvel’s flame-skulled vigilante with supernatural powers.

The new instalment will be directed by Shawn Levy, whose recent Marvel outing, Deadpool & Wolverine, became one of the studio’s biggest successes. Levy is also working with Gosling on Star Wars: Starfighter, scheduled for release next year.

Speaking at the panel, Levy revealed that conversations about Ghost Rider began during breaks on the Star Wars set, with the pair frequently exchanging ideas about how to reimagine the character before deciding to bring the project to Marvel.

Comic-Con delivered several other headline announcements for Marvel fans. The studio showcased exclusive footage from the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and confirmed that Black Panther 3 is also scheduled for release in 2028, further expanding Marvel’s long-term slate.

Adding to the excitement, Ryan Reynolds made a surprise appearance dressed as Deadpool during the Avengers: Doomsday panel, playfully questioning cast members including Robert Downey Jr. and Paul Rudd before Downey quipped that filming was already complete.

Beyond Marvel, the convention also featured surprise appearances from Johnny Depp and Rick Moranis, who announced a sequel to the cult comedy Spaceballs, making this year’s San Diego Comic-Con one of the event’s most star-studded editions in recent memory.

For Marvel, however, the loudest cheers belonged to Ghost Rider. With Gosling finally stepping into the flaming boots of Johnny Blaze, the studio has added another marquee name to its ever-expanding superhero universe and given fans a blockbuster to look forward to in 2028.