Ryan Gosling is officially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with the actor confirmed to play Ghost Rider in a brand-new standalone film.
The announcement was made during San Diego Comic-Con, where Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige surprised fans by bringing Gosling on stage to confirm months of speculation surrounding his MCU debut.
The film will be directed by Shawn Levy, who previously helmed Deadpool & Wolverine, and is scheduled for release in 2028.
Ryan Reynolds. Denis Makarenko, Shutterstock
Taking to the stage, Gosling told the Comic-Con crowd he had wanted to play the character for years.
"Wow, is this really happening?" he said before adding that Ghost Rider was a role he had "wanted to play for a very long time."
Levy revealed that the project came together while he and Gosling were working on the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, which is due to hit cinemas on May 28, 2027.
"As Ryan started talking about his vision for this character, we started riffing, and I finally said, 'bro, let's ride', so guys, we'll see you in 2028," the director told fans.
Ghost Rider, whose real name is Johnny Blaze, is one of Marvel's best-known anti-heroes. A motorcycle stunt performer, Blaze becomes bonded to the Spirit of Vengeance, Zarathos, after making a deal with the demon Mephisto to save his surrogate father. The pact transforms him into the supernatural Ghost Rider, complete with a flaming skull, mystical powers and a mission to punish the wicked.
The new film will be the third live-action Ghost Rider movie, following 2007's Ghost Rider and 2011's Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, both of which starred Nicolas Cage.
Nicolas Cage. Denis Makarenko, Shutterstock
The announcement comes shortly after Gosling reportedly exited another film from the Oscar-winning directing duo behind Everything Everywhere All at Once, with reports suggesting scheduling conflicts played a role.
Before heading to the MCU, Gosling will first make his debut in the Star Wars universe in Star Wars: Starfighter.
Comic-Con also delivered plenty of news for Marvel fans, including the debut of the first trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, which arrives in cinemas in 2027.
The preview sees Chris Hemsworth's Thor assembling a new team of heroes to face Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., who returns to the MCU in a completely different role after previously portraying Iron Man.
One of the trailer's biggest surprises is the return of Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, marking his first MCU appearance since Avengers: Endgame.
Marvel also confirmed that both the Fantastic Four and the Thunderbolts will feature in Avengers: Doomsday and its sequel.
Meanwhile, another A-list Ryan - Ryan Reynolds - made a surprise appearance at Comic-Con dressed as Deadpool, joking with cast members during the Avengers: Doomsday panel before later thanking fans on Instagram.
"The fans got Deadpool off the ground so many years ago," Reynolds wrote. "I felt so lucky to be on the #SDCC floor with everyone whose unapologetic devotion brings so much joy to this world."
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The packed Comic-Con presentation also confirmed that Black Panther 3 is in development and is expected to be released in 2028, as Marvel continues to outline the next phase of its cinematic universe.
