Marvel Studios just dropped the biggest bombshell of San Diego Comic-Con.
After years of rumors, fan campaigns, playful teases, and Ryan Gosling himself openly expressing interest in the role, it’s finally official: Ryan Gosling is the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s new Johnny Blaze!
Even more exciting, Marvel Studios confirmed that Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) will direct the long-awaited Ghost Rider feature, bringing the Spirit of Vengeance roaring into the MCU in 2028.
If you’ve been following Dread Central, this announcement shouldn’t come as a complete surprise.
Earlier this year, we covered Gosling’s admission that he’d already been in discussions with Marvel about playing Ghost Rider after years of publicly campaigning for the role. We also reported on the growing speculation that the Oscar-nominated actor had become Marvel’s top choice to finally bring Johnny Blaze back to the big screen.
Now it’s official.
The announcement was made during Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation Saturday night at San Diego Comic-Con, where Kevin Feige brought Gosling onstage to thunderous applause before confirming he will headline the studio’s new Ghost Rider film. Shawn Levy, fresh off the massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine and his collaboration with Gosling on Star Wars: Starfighter, will direct.
It’s hard to imagine better casting.
Gosling has the charisma, dramatic range, and effortless cool to make Johnny Blaze feel fresh while still honoring the character’s comic book roots. Pairing him with Levy also makes plenty of sense given the chemistry they’ve already built working together.
Marvel has yet to reveal story details or confirm whether the film will introduce other supernatural characters from its growing horror corner of the MCU, but the project immediately becomes one of the studio’s most anticipated upcoming releases.
Fans have been waiting years for Ghost Rider to properly enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tonight, that wait officially came to an end.
In theaters 2028. Logo below.
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