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Marvel Studios announced Saturday that Ryan Gosling will star as Johnny Blaze, the supernatural hero known as Ghost Rider, in a new film directed by Shawn Levy.
The reveal came during Marvel's Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con, drawing a strong reaction from the audience.
The film is scheduled for release in 2028. Speculation about a Ghost Rider revival and Gosling's potential involvement had circulated for over a year, but his appearance at the panel confirmed the project.
The announcement followed a moment referencing recent comments by journalist Josh Horowitz, who had asked Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige at a press event why Gosling had not yet taken on the role.
Horowitz appeared during the panel to pose the question again from the audience, prompting Feige to bring Gosling on stage.
'As you know, this is a character I've wanted to play for a very long time. So, Kevin, Josh Horowitz, Hall H, thank you,' Gosling said.
Levy, who directed Marvel's 'Deadpool & Wolverine,' joined Gosling on stage and said the two discussed the Ghost Rider project while filming 'Star Wars: Starfighter,' their upcoming collaboration.
He praised Gosling's approach to the role and said the idea developed through conversations on set.
Ghost Rider has previously appeared on screen through Nicolas Cage, who played Johnny Blaze in two films released by Sony in 2007 and 2011, and Gabriel Luna, who portrayed the character in the television series 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'
The character was created by writer Gary Friedrich and artist Mike Ploog, first appearing in 'Marvel Spotlight' No. 5 in 1972 before receiving his own comic series a year later.
In the original story, stunt motorcycle rider Johnny Blaze makes a pact with a demon named Zarathos, becoming a flaming, skull-headed rider bound to a mission of vengeance.
Several other characters, including Danny Ketch and Robbie Reyes, have also carried the Ghost Rider mantle in later comic runs.
This marks Gosling's first role in a superhero or comic book film. He was previously considered for the role of Green Lantern in the late 2000s.
In recent years, he has taken on larger studio and franchise projects, starring in 'Project Hail Mary' this year and set to appear in 'Star Wars: Starfighter' in 2027.
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