SAN DIEGO (GNP): Marvel Studios confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday that actor Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider in a new film set for release in 2028.
The announcement came during a surprise onstage reveal. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige had teased the news by telling the crowd he had long been asked when Gosling would join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Moments later, the lights dimmed. When they returned, Gosling appeared onstage to cheers from fans.
The three-time Oscar nominee said the role was one he had “wanted to play for a very long time.” He asked the crowd, “Is this really happening?”
The new film will be the third installment centered on the motorcycle-riding anti-hero, following the 2007 film starring Nicolas Cage and its 2011 sequel, “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.”
Ghost Rider is the alter ego of stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze, who becomes bound to the Spirit of Vengeance after striking a deal with the villain Mephisto to save his surrogate father, gaining supernatural powers in the process.
Shawn Levy, who directed “Deadpool & Wolverine,” will direct the new film. Gosling described him as the only director suited for the project.
Levy told the audience that he and Gosling had spent much of their downtime discussing the character while working together on the upcoming “Star Wars: Starfighter.” He said their conversations eventually led to a decision to move forward with the film, adding, “We’ll see you in 2028.”
The Ghost Rider reveal was one of several major announcements at this year’s convention. Marvel also confirmed that “Black Panther 3” will arrive in theaters on Dec. 15, 2028, introducing actor David Jonsson as a new T’Challa, the son of the character originally portrayed by the late Chadwick Boseman.
Jonsson said he wanted the film itself to speak for his performance, adding that taking on the role was an honor.
Director Ryan Coogler appeared alongside returning cast members Letitia Wright and Winston Duke to introduce the project.
Audiences also saw early footage from “Avengers: Doomsday,” the franchise’s next major release following “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” The footage showed the villain Doctor Doom overpowering the Avengers in battle while commanding an army of Sentinels, the mutant-hunting robots familiar from Marvel’s X-Men comics.
The panel featured an extensive cast lineup, including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Anthony Mackie, Simu Liu, James Marsden, David Harbour, Letitia Wright and Lewis Pullman, alongside directors Anthony and Joe Russo. Actor Hayley Atwell also confirmed she will return as Peggy Carter.
Downey Jr., appearing in character as the villain Victor von Doom, invited attendees to try on masks and capes modeled after the character as part of the presentation.
The convention also included surprise appearances from Jon Bernthal, reprising his role as The Punisher, and Ryan Reynolds, who appeared in character as Deadpool at a separate panel for “Avengers: Doomsday.”
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Dressed in a gray version of his character’s suit, Reynolds interjected questions during the panel, at one point asking the cast when filming would begin. Downey Jr. responded that production had already wrapped, joking that Reynolds needed to look around and pay closer attention.
“Avengers: Doomsday” is scheduled for release on Dec. 18, the same day as Warner Bros.’ next “Dune” installment, setting up what industry observers have dubbed a box office showdown. The following major franchise release, “Avengers: Secret Wars,” is set for December 2027.
Marvel films have generated close to $33 billion at the global box office, the highest total of any film franchise, with “Avengers: Endgame” ranking as the second-highest-grossing movie of all time.
Marvel is also expected to have a major presence at D23, Disney’s large-scale fan convention, scheduled for Aug. 14-16 in Anaheim, California.
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
