SDCC 2026: Ryan Gosling Set To Star in Ghost Rider Reboot for Marvel Studios, Due Out in 2028

The Spirit of Vengeance rides again. Marvel Studios returned to San Diego Comic-Con this year with multiple big announcements, along with new footage of Avengers: Doomsday. However, one of the big surprises this year included the big announcement of a new theatrical Ghost Rider reboot.

Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling will star as the titular flaming-skull-headed vigilante of the Marvel Universe. Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker Shawn Levy, who is directing Gosling in next year’s Star Wars: Starfighter, will helm the feature. It will arrive in theaters in 2028.

Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige revealed the Ghost Rider news during the Marvel Studios presentation. Work has already begun on the new reboot per Feige, and Gosling and Levy joined the stage in Hall H to a huge ovation. It was also revealed that Starfighter scribe Jonathan Tropper is writing the feature.

This will mark the third theatrical Ghost Rider feature. Nicolas Cage starred in the previous two outings as the Johnny Blaze version of the Hell Cycle-riding hero, first with Ghost Rider in 2007 and once again with its sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in 2007.

The first movie was a moderate success in theaters, grossing $115 million domestically and $228 million worldwide with an approximate budget of $110 million. Spirit of Vengeance was less successful, grossing only $51 million domestically and $132 million worldwide with a much leaner $57 million budget. Both movies were produced and released by Sony Pictures before the rights to the character reverted to Marvel Studios and Disney.

Another live-action version of the character appeared in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series, with Gabriel Luna portraying the Robbie Reyes iteration of the Spirit of Vengeance, who dispatches justice using the Hell Charger.

Which Ghost Rider Will Ryan Gosling Portray?

Marvel Studios has not yet clarified which version of Ghost Rider Gosling will portray. The more notable versions of the character have been the original, Johnny Blaze, and the later 90s version of the character, Danny Ketch. It was eventually revealed that Blaze and Ketch are long-lost brothers. Gosling has previously expressed interest in portraying the character.

Before Ghost Rider hits theaters, Gosling’s next movie takes place in the galaxy that is far, far away, as Star Wars: Starfighter hits theaters on May 28, 2027. You can check out the logo reveal for the new reboot below.

Just announced in Hall H:

Ryan Gosling joins the MCU in Marvel Studios' Ghost Rider, directed by Shawn Levy. Only in theaters 2028. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/S0FQKt5RGn

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 26, 2026