Marvel Studios has officially announced that Ryan Gosling will star as Johnny Blaze in a brand-new Ghost Rider feature film directed by Shawn Levy, slated for a theatrical release in 2028. This marks the character’s entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following previous iterations produced by Columbia Pictures.
When Kevin Feige walked onto the Hall H stage at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 25, 2026, he announced that Ryan Gosling is officially playing Johnny Blaze. Ryan Gosling, known for Barbie and Der Astronaut – Project Hail Mary, is playing Johnny Blaze. Getting the Spirit of Vengeance under the Marvel Studios umbrella followed previous independent studio iterations.
Gosling’s arrival highlights the superhero landscape since a leather-clad Nicolas Cage first roared onto the silver screen in 2007. For fans looking to catch up before Levy directs the 2028 film, the franchise includes two decades of stunt-biker cinema and rights handoffs.
The Bottom Line
- The Big Casting: Ryan Gosling takes over the role of Johnny Blaze in a Ghost Rider film directed by Shawn Levy, arriving in cinemas in 2028.
- The Predecessors: Nicolas Cage starred in two previous films—Ghost Rider (2007) and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)—both produced by Columbia Pictures.
- The Television Connection: Gabriel Luna previously portrayed the Robbie Reyes iteration of the character in Season 4 of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., though that version never crossed over to feature films.
From Crystal Sky to Columbia: The Development History
Marvel began developing a Ghost Rider film adaptation as early as 1992, cycling through production partners before striking a deal with Crystal Sky Entertainment and Dimension Films in the early 2000s. At various points in early development, Eric Bana was considered to play Johnny Blaze before opting to headline Hulk for Universal Pictures in 2003.
Momentum shifted when Columbia Pictures stepped in to acquire rights. With Johnny Depp rumored for consideration, Nicolas Cage—who played the lead in 2007’s Ghost Rider—secured the role. Directed by Mark Steven Johnson, 2007’s Ghost Rider introduced audiences to the stunt rider who trades his soul to save his father, ultimately grossing over 361 million dollars worldwide alongside the sequel.
Parsing the Cinematic Backlog: Cage, Sequel, and Box Office Reality
While Columbia Pictures found commercial viability in the first outing, the sequel faced hurdles.
| Film Title | Release Year | Studio / Distributor | Estimated Worldwide Box Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost Rider | 2007 | Columbia Pictures / Sony | 361.30 Million US Dollar (Combined) |
| Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance | 2011 | Columbia Pictures / Sony | 361.30 Million US Dollar (Combined) |
| Ghost Rider (Reboot) | 2028 (Scheduled) | Marvel Studios | TBD |
Following the release of the sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in 2011—which helped the two films reach a combined worldwide gross of over 361 million dollars—the cinematic momentum stalled. By May 2013, the film rights reverted from Sony Pictures back to Marvel, with the understanding that there would be no further Ghost Rider film in the near future.
Small Screen Detours and the Road to San Diego Hall H
Marvel Television brought a different iteration of the character into live-action. Gabriel Luna embodied the Robbie Reyes incarnation of Ghost Rider during the fourth season of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., introducing the character to television audiences. This version never transitioned into theatrical releases.
The path to Ryan Gosling’s casting took shape behind the scenes of another production. While shooting Star Wars: Starfighter—scheduled for a May 2027 release—Gosling and director Shawn Levy worked together. The trio of Gosling, Levy, and screenwriter Jonathan Tropper are bringing Johnny Blaze into the MCU.
Gosling openly campaigned for the role years prior. Speaking with podcaster Josh Horowitz back in 2022 while fielding rumors about playing Nova, Gosling named the Spirit of Vengeance as his dream character.
What Comes Next for Marvel’s Supernatural Arm
With a target release window of 2028, Marvel Studios will establish how a motorcycle-riding stuntman fits into the MCU. Jonathan Tropper is writing the script. Whether Shawn Levy leans into the practical stunt work or relies on digital effects remains to be seen.
The pairing of Gosling and Levy serves as a test case for franchise reinvention. Do you think Gosling can successfully redefine Johnny Blaze for a new generation, or should Marvel have stuck with the supernatural roots of the television iteration?
