Ryan Gosling is officially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ghost Rider, ending years of speculation about who would inherit the role after Nicolas Cage’s 2007 outing as the character.

The announcement came at Comic-Con in San Diego on 25 July, part of a weekend packed with Marvel reveals that also included a new trailer for Avengers: Doomsday and the casting of David Jonsson as the next Black Panther. Gosling will play Johnny Blaze, the motorcycle stuntman who becomes a flame-skulled anti-hero, in a film directed by Shawn Levy, who previously helmed Deadpool & Wolverine. The project is slated for theatrical release in 2028.

Gosling’s excitement on stage suggested this was a role he had been chasing for some time, and he thanked Marvel chief Kevin Feige among others for making it happen. He had first floated his interest in the character publicly back in 2022, during a conversation on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast.

That interview also became something of a turning point in the long-running fan campaign for Norman Reedus to take on the part. The Walking Dead actor had been vocal about wanting to play Ghost Rider since 2016, and was widely seen as a contender.

But when Feige was asked about the idea around the same time as Gosling’s podcast comments, he made his preference fairly clear, praising Gosling’s screen presence and joking about how much attention Gosling drew simply dressed as Ken on Venice Beach, a nod to the viral rollerblading photos with Margot Robbie during Barbie’s promotional run in 2022. Cage’s original take on Ghost Rider also starred Eva Mendes, who is now married to Gosling, adding an unexpected personal thread to the casting.

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For now, plot details remain under wraps, and
Marvel has not confirmed how the character will tie into the wider Avengers storyline building towards Doomsday. But the reception at Comic-Con suggests the studio has landed on a choice fans are largely happy to see through to the screen.