Get ready to swap the pink leather jacket for a spiked motorcycle vest and a burning skull. Love it or hate it, Ryan Gosling is officially revving his engine for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The New Johnny Blaze
Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige took the stage at San Diego Comic-Con’s legendary Hall H to drop the bombshell: the Project Hail Mary star will play Johnny Blaze himself in a brand-new, standalone Ghost Rider movie. To make matters even wilder, the fiery blockbuster will be helmed by “Stranger Things” director Shawn Levy, with a theatrical pitstop scheduled for 2028.
Marvel Royalty
Levy, of course, is practically Marvel royalty at this point after unleashing the box-office juggernaut Deadpool & Wolverine. The film also marks a quick reunion for Levy and Gosling, who just wrapped production together on Star Wars: Starfighter (landing in theaters May 28, 2027). Apparently, space wasn’t enough—they needed vengeance, too.
“I’m having the greatest flashback vibes here, because I was here two years ago when we showed Deadpool & Wolverine,” Levy told the roaring Hall H crowd alongside Gosling and Feige. “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!”
The History of Ghost Rider
Before he ever rode a motorcycle or sported a flaming skull, Ghost Rider was actually a glowing, trick-costumed 19th-century Western vigilante named Carter Slade, who debuted in 1967 and was later renamed the Phantom Rider.
The character truly ignited in 1972 when writer Gary Friedrich and artist Mike Ploog introduced stunt cyclist Johnny Blaze, a man who sold his soul to the demon Mephisto to save his adoptive father, only to end up bound to the demon Zarathos as a flame-headed, leather-clad vigilante riding a bike straight from hell.
The ’90s overhauled the mythos with Danny Ketch, who brought along the iconic spiked leather jacket, spiked chains, and the terrifying Penance Stare. Marvel eventually expanded the lore into a multi-generational legacy, introducing fresh takes like East LA driver Robbie Reyes and his flaming ’69 Dodge Charger, alongside cosmic and prehistoric incarnations.
Outside the comics, Nicolas Cage famously brought Johnny Blaze to the big screen across two cult-classic feature films. At the same time, Gabriel Luna stepped into Robbie Reyes’ shoes for a fan-favorite arc on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The Ghost Rider Saddles Up
Consider the Penance Stare officially returning. The question is: Is Gosling the right person for the part? Can he fill the Ghost Rider biker boots previously worn by Nicolas Cage?
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