Marvel Studios Announces ‘Ghost Rider’ Film Starring Ryan Gosling, Directed by Shawn Levy

A motorcycle engine roared through Hall H on Saturday as Kevin Feige pulled off one of the most theatrical reveals in Comic-Con history — confirming that Ryan Gosling will ride into the MCU as Johnny Blaze, with ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ director Shawn Levy behind the camera for a 2028 release.

For years, it was the question Kevin Feige couldn’t shake at every junket, every panel, every stray red-carpet microphone: when would Ryan Gosling finally join the Marvel Cinematic Universe? On Saturday evening, in front of a delirious Hall H crowd at San Diego Comic-Con, the Marvel Studios president finally had an answer — and he delivered it with the flair of a man who had clearly been waiting to say it out loud.

Feige set up the moment as a bit, inviting journalist Josh Horowitz to shout the now-familiar question from the crowd. Instead of another dodge, Feige turned toward the wings as the sound of a revving motorcycle engine cut through the arena. Gosling walked out to a wall of noise, visibly stunned by the reaction. “Wow, is this really happening?” he told the crowd. “As you know, this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a very long time.”

A Long-Rumoured Pairing Becomes Official

The casting had been whispered about for over a year, but Saturday’s announcement made it real: Gosling will play Johnny Blaze, the stunt-motorcyclist-turned-supernatural-avenger who transforms into the flaming-skulled Ghost Rider, in a standalone film set for release in 2028. It marks the actor’s first superhero or comic-book role — a notable landmark for one of Hollywood’s most in-demand leading men.

Gosling wasted no time handing the moment off to his director of choice. “But if we’re really going to do this,” he told the crowd, “there’s only one director who can do it.” He then welcomed Shawn Levy to the stage — the filmmaker behind Marvel’s billion-dollar hit “Deadpool & Wolverine,” who returned to Hall H two years after that film’s own record-breaking reveal.

“I finally said, ‘Bro, let’s ride.’ So guys, we’ll see you in 2028.” — Shawn Levy

Levy told the audience he was overcome with déjà vu. “I’m having the greatest flashback vibes here, because I was here two years ago when we showed ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’ I’ll never forget that night, because I was introduced to the greatest fans.” Of his new leading man, Levy didn’t hold back: “Gosling is the absolute shit,” he said, quickly adding, “I say that with tremendous respect.”

Not Their First Ride Together

The Gosling-Levy partnership is already road-tested. The pair are currently finishing work on “Star Wars: Starfighter,” due in theatres on May 28, 2027, and according to Levy, their Ghost Rider plans were born on that very set. During downtime between takes, the two reportedly spent hours daydreaming about the character and swapping ideas — riffing, as Levy put it, until the concept became too good to leave on the shelf.

That means Levy and Gosling are now set to deliver a Star Wars film and a Marvel film back to back, an unprecedented pairing of director and star holding two of Hollywood’s biggest franchises simultaneously. Screenwriter Jonathan Tropper, who also worked on “Starfighter,” is reportedly returning to pen the Ghost Rider script.

From Nicolas Cage to Gabriel Luna — A Character With a Complicated Screen History

Ghost Rider has had an unusual journey to the big screen. Nicolas Cage first played the role in Sony’s 2007 film and its 2011 sequel — both outside Marvel Studios’ own cinematic universe. In a small twist of trivia, Gosling’s longtime partner Eva Mendes co-starred in the original 2007 film as Roxanne Simpson, Johnny Blaze’s love interest. A separate version of the character, Robbie Reyes, was later played by Gabriel Luna on “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” though that portrayal was never folded into official MCU canon. Saturday’s announcement effectively resets the character for Marvel Studios’ core continuity, giving Gosling a clean slate to define the role his own way.

What This Means for Marvel’s Slate

The Ghost Rider reveal was one of several major beats from a jam-packed Hall H session that also featured a first look at “Avengers: Doomsday” and the unveiling of David Jonsson as the new Black Panther. Placing Ghost Rider’s solo film in 2028 slots the character into Marvel’s next narrative chapter, the post-“Secret Wars” era — and has already fuelled speculation among fans about whether Johnny Blaze could make an earlier cameo before his own film arrives.

For now, Marvel has kept plot details close to the chest. What’s confirmed: Gosling as Johnny Blaze, Levy in the director’s chair, and a 2028 release date that gives the studio time to build anticipation the way it did with “Deadpool & Wolverine” — a film that turned into one of the biggest box-office successes in Marvel’s history.

As Levy closed out the segment with a grin: “So guys, we’ll see you in 2028.” Judging by Hall H’s reaction, the wait is already underway.