Ryan Gosling is officially set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2028, taking on the role of the iconic, leather-clad, motorcycle-riding superhero Ghost Rider. The announcement was made by Marvel Studios at the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con on Sunday, marking a major expansion for the franchise.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige opened the presentation by telling the audience, “We keep secrets to maintain surprises.” He then acknowledged the long-standing fan demand for the character’s inclusion in the MCU. During the event, film critic Josh Horowitz, who was in the crowd, asked directly when Gosling would finally portray the supernatural stunt motorcyclist. The hall then went dark, and the words “Ghost Rider” appeared on the screen in glowing red letters, accompanied by a heavy bass soundtrack.
When the stage lights returned, Gosling appeared to an enthusiastic crowd. “Wow,” the actor remarked, “Is this really happening?” He expressed his long-held desire to play the character, noting that he only wanted to work with director Shawn Levy, with whom he is currently collaborating on the upcoming film “Star Wars: Starfighter.”
Levy joined the pair on stage, explaining that he and Gosling had discussed potential ideas for the Ghost Rider project while filming “Star Wars: Starfighter” last year. “And finally, I was like: Bro, let’s ride,” Levy told the cheering audience. The collaboration marks a significant creative partnership for the upcoming Marvel project.
The character of Ghost Rider first appeared in Marvel comics in 1967 as a Western hero named Carter Slade. However, the character gained widespread popularity in 1972 with the introduction of Johnny Blaze in Marvel Spotlight issue 5. In that iteration, Blaze makes a pact with Satan to save a loved one, resulting in his transformation into a flaming-skulled entity after dark. The character was previously adapted for film in 2007 and 2011, with Nicolas Cage starring in the lead role alongside Eva Mendes. The report also notes that telling fans, “We keep secrets to maintain surprises,” before alluding to fans’ demands for th, marvel Studios President Kevin Feige teased the announcement while on stage at the 2026 edition of the comic book convention. The report also notes that ghost Rider made his Marvel comic book debut in 1967 as the “world’s most mysterious Western hero” — the horse-riding alter ego of character Carter Slade. The report also notes that suddenly, the hall was plunged into darkness.
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