RYAN GOSLING TO STAR IN NEW MARVEL GHOST RIDER FILM

Marvel Studios announced that Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider in a new film set for release in 2028. The announcement was made at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, with the actor appearing on stage to cheers from the audience. Gosling said the role is a character he has "wanted to play for a very long time". The film will be directed by Shawn Levy, who has previously directed Deadpool & Wolverine in the MCU.

This will be the third Ghost Rider film, following the 2007 film starring Nicolas Cage and its 2011 sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. Ghost Rider is the anti-hero identity of motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze, who becomes bound to the Spirit of Vengeance Zarathos after making a deal with villain Mephisto. Gosling and Levy are currently working together on Star Wars: Starfighter, due for release next year. Levy told the crowd that he and Gosling spent downtime on set discussing the character and ideas for the film.

Gosling had previously indicated interest in the role. He confirmed in March that he was in discussions with Marvel whilst appearing on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. Levy described Gosling as the "only" director for the project and said the pair began "riffing" about the character's vision during their work together.