Marvel’s ‘Ghost Rider’ Reportedly Moves Into Casting as Ryan Gosling’s Movie Revs Up

For years, ‘Ghost Rider’ has been one of the most requested comic book properties waiting for a proper Marvel Studios debut. The character, known as the Spirit of Vengeance, has a flaming skull and a hellfire motorcycle that made him a fan favorite long before the MCU existed. After a long detour through other studios and a TV appearance, the character is finally getting his own Marvel film.

That film was confirmed in dramatic fashion at San Diego Comic-Con in July. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige announced that Ryan Gosling will star in a standalone ‘Ghost Rider’ movie directed by Shawn Levy, with Jonathan Tropper writing the script. Marvel has set the release for July 28, 2028.

Now the project may be taking its next big step. Casting is reportedly underway for ‘Ghost Rider’, according to a new industry report. Specific roles and names have not been confirmed, so the details remain unofficial for now.

Casting is reportedly underway for ‘GHOST RIDER’ (via @KnightGambit) https://t.co/OO6u8AEDqc

— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) October 25, 2026

The announcement was a long time coming. Gosling has spoken about wanting to play the character for years, and he reportedly pitched his own ideas to Marvel before the studio gave the green light. Levy said the two started trading ideas for the film while working together on ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’, which opens May 28, 2027.

Levy previously directed ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’, which grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide, so this marks his second Marvel Studios production. ‘Ghost Rider’ is one of the first official titles in the studio’s Phase 7 slate. Gosling has described the character as one he’s wanted to play for a very long time.

Marvel’s announcement did not specify which version of the character Gosling will play. Several outlets report he is Johnny Blaze, the stunt rider who sold his soul in a bargain with a demon. Other versions include Danny Ketch and Robbie Reyes, a mechanic who drives a muscle car instead of a motorcycle.

Reyes already appeared in the MCU when Gabriel Luna played him in ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ season 4. A planned Hulu spin-off with Luna was scrapped because of a creative impasse. Nicolas Cage played Blaze in 2 Sony films, ‘Ghost Rider’ and ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance’, and reviews for both were mostly negative.

For now, Gosling is the only confirmed cast member. That is why the new casting report matters. A film like this needs a strong supporting ensemble, from allies to the demonic forces hunting its hero.

A separate report claims the film is being made under the working title ‘Drive-Thru’, a playful nod to the driving theme. That claim is a rumor, and Marvel hasn’t confirmed it. The same report suggested Gosling is rumored to play Blaze.

The release date also places it in a crowded stretch of the MCU calendar. Marvel’s first X-Men movie is set for May 5, 2028, roughly 2 months before ‘Ghost Rider’. A third ‘Black Panther’ film, with David Jonsson taking over the title role, is also planned for 2028.

Marvel has been tight-lipped about plot specifics, and Feige and Gosling revealed little beyond a new logo. Even so, the fact that work has already begun suggests the studio is moving quickly. If the casting report is accurate, official announcements could start arriving in the coming months.

Fans have a lot riding on this. The character has had a rocky history on screen, and many want a version that finally lives up to the comics. Gosling’s involvement has already raised expectations, especially after Feige praised his work in ‘Starfighter’.

The casting phase will help answer the biggest questions, including how dark the tone will be and which corners of the Marvel universe the story will touch. It will also show whether the studio is leaning into supernatural horror. Until then, every piece of news is another clue about where the road leads.

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