Actor Ryan Gosling is ready to join another successful franchise. Shortly after joining Shawn Levy“Star Wars: Starfighter”, which will be released in theaters in May 2027, boss of Marvel Kevin Feige announced that the “Project Hail Mary” actor would be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ghost Rider during the San Diego Comic Con panel held Saturday night. It’s a role the actor has always wanted to play, but he also has a surprising bond with his partner, Eva Mendes.
Inside Ryan Gosling’s Ghost Rider Announcement at San Diego Comic Con
On Saturday, July 25, fans gathered at Marvel’s Hall H panel at San Diego Comic Con to see who would be the next actor to play Ghost Rider. Marvel boss Kevin Feige has announced that Ryan Gosling, fresh off the success of “Project Hail Mary,” will reprise the role in an upcoming standalone film.
The announcement was met with cheers from the audience. “As you know, this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a long time,” Gosling told the crowd.
How Eva Mendes relates to her role as Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider was previously portrayed by “National Treasure” actor Nicolas Cage in the 2007 film. The film also starred Gosling’s longtime partner Eva Mendes as Roxanne Simpson. Although Cage reprized his role in the 2011 sequel, “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,” Mendes did not return for that film.
The 2007 film was not well received and only has a 28% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Scott Huver of Hollywood.com called it “the worst adaptation of a Marvel Comics hero yet”, while Mike Barnard of Future Movies UK said that “Cage needs to produce something special next to make up for the crimes against cinema”.
However, not all critics hated the film. Megan Basham of WORLD said, “This strange amalgamation of Texas Rangers lore, NASCAR bravado and Devil-and-Daniel-Webster trickery keeps the fun campy just enough that you can’t completely hate it.”
This new Ghost Rider will be directed by Shawn Levy
Shawn Levy, who directed the 2024 Marvel film “Deadpool and Wolverine,” will direct the new Ghost Rider film. He previously worked with Gosling in “Star Wars: Starfighter,” which hits theaters in May 2027.
During the Marvel panel at SDCC, Levy took the stage alongside Gosling and Feige. “I’m getting the biggest flashback vibes here, because I was here two years ago when we showed Deadpool and Wolverine“, he told the crowd.
“I will never forget that night because I was introduced to the biggest fans. Gosling is absolute shit. I say that with immense respect,” he continued. “We spent a lot of time last year making Starfighterand the opportunity, as Ryan started talking about this character, I was like, “Brother, let’s do it.” We will see each other again in 2028!
No release date has been set for the new Ghost Rider movie.
Eva Mendes may be considering returning to acting
Although she starred in films such as 2003’s “2 Fast 2 Furious” and 2005’s “Hitch,” Eva Mendes remained largely out of the public eye for some time. However, as The Blast previously reported, that could all be about to change.
An insider said Star Magazine that she is looking forward to exploring new opportunities in the entertainment industry and letting Gosling stay home with the kids for a change. “She’s counting on Ryan to take over at home and slow down her usually busy schedule,” the source explained. “Eva needs time off to meet filmmakers and studio executives and really see what’s in store for her.”
Will she appear in “Star Wars: Starfighter”?
There are rumors that she might make an appearance in “Star Wars: Starfighter” alongside her husband. There is also speculation that she could appear in “Fast Forever,” the next installment in the “Fast and Furious” franchise.
Although his appearance in “Starfighter” has not been confirmed, the source said that working on the film reignited his love of acting. “Eva rediscovered her love of acting while filming ‘Starfighter’ last year,” the source revealed. “Now she wants to star in more movies that her kids and their friends will enjoy and talk about.”
Mendes and Gosling met while filming “The Place Beyond the Pines” in 2012. They share two daughters together, but have remained fairly private about their relationship and family life.