Shawn Levy to direct Ryan Gosling in Marvel's Ghost Rider
Marvel Studios has tapped Shawn Levy to direct a new Ghost Rider film starring Ryan Gosling, Kevin Feige announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. The motorcycle-riding Spirit of Vengeance movie is slated for theaters in 2028, reuniting Levy and Gosling after their upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter collaboration.
Key Takeaways
- Shawn Levy will direct Marvel Studios’ Ghost Rider film, set for a 2028 theatrical release.
- Ryan Gosling stars as Ghost Rider, confirmed onstage at Marvel’s Hall H panel.
- Levy and Gosling are already teaming on Star Wars: Starfighter, due May 28, 2027.
- Jonathan Tropper is writing the script, per Deadline’s Comic-Con report.
- Nicolas Cage previously played Johnny Blaze in Sony’s 2007 and 2011 Ghost Rider movies.
What did Marvel announce about Shawn Levy and Ghost Rider?
During Marvel Studios’ Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, president Kevin Feige confirmed a new Ghost Rider film is in development. Ryan Gosling will play the motorcycle-riding hero, and Shawn Levy will direct, according to Marvel.com.
Feige joked that fans have long asked when Ghost Rider — and Gosling — might join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Gosling then took the stage to loud cheers. “Wow, is this really happening?” he told the crowd. “As you know, this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a very long time.”
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Why does Shawn Levy’s involvement matter for the MCU film?
Levy previously directed Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine. He and Gosling are currently working together on Star Wars: Starfighter, arriving in theaters May 28, 2027. On stage, Gosling said “only one director” could bring Ghost Rider to the screen and welcomed Levy.
Levy told Hall H that the pair spent downtime on the Starfighter set daydreaming about Ghost Rider and swapping ideas. “As Ryan started talking about his vision for this character, we started riffing,” he said. “And I finally said, ‘Bro, let’s ride.’ So guys, we’ll see you in 2028.”
Variety reported Levy also recalled his Deadpool & Wolverine Comic-Con appearance two years earlier, calling Gosling “the absolute shit” with “tremendous respect.”
Who else is attached, and how does this Ghost Rider differ from past versions?
Deadline reports Jonathan Tropper is writing the script, reteaming with Levy and Gosling after Starfighter. The big-screen Ghost Rider was previously played by Nicolas Cage in 2007’s Ghost Rider and 2011’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, which combined grossed more than $361 million worldwide.
Those films followed Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stuntman who sells his soul and becomes a supernatural agent of vengeance. Variety notes Gabriel Luna also portrayed Robbie Reyes on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and that a planned Hulu standalone series was scrapped in 2019.
Gosling’s partner Eva Mendes starred in the 2007 film. Deadline said there was no word from the Comic-Con stage on whether she would return as Roxanne Simpson.
Stay with BlasterPost for updates as Shawn Levy’s Ghost Rider rides toward its 2028 release.