Marvel Studios has officially found a date for the Spirit of Vengeance to ride into theaters, with Ryan Gosling’s Ghost Rider scheduled for July 28, 2028.
The film will mark Gosling’s arrival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as one of the company’s most recognizable supernatural characters. His casting was announced at San Diego Comic-Con, ending years of speculation about whether the Oscar-nominated actor might eventually find a home in the MCU.
Gosling’s connection to Ghost Rider was hardly a random casting decision. The actor had previously made his interest in the character public, turning what once sounded like dream casting into an actual Marvel production.
Shawn Levy is directing the movie, extending a working relationship with Gosling that also includes Star Wars: Starfighter. Levy already has superhero experience under his belt after directing Deadpool & Wolverine, making him a familiar figure within Marvel Studios as the company prepares to explore its darker supernatural corner.
Jonathan Tropper is attached to write the screenplay and has also worked with Gosling and Levy on Star Wars: Starfighter.
For Marvel, the newly confirmed date also makes the studio’s 2028 theatrical plans considerably clearer. Ghost Rider is positioned between X-Men, scheduled for May, and Black Panther 3, which is set for December.
The character arrives with plenty of cinematic baggage, although the flaming kind is probably appropriate here. Nicolas Cage previously played motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. A different incarnation of the character, Robbie Reyes, was later played by Gabriel Luna on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Exactly what Marvel has planned for Gosling’s version remains a mystery. Story details have not been revealed, leaving unanswered questions about the movie’s supporting characters, villains and connections to the larger MCU.
What is no longer a mystery is when audiences will get to see it. After years of Gosling expressing interest in Ghost Rider, the actor now has the role, a director and a prime summer release date.
The Spirit of Vengeance officially rides again on July 28, 2028.
