The Gray Man star Ryan Gosling reportedly wants to enter the superhero genre as the new Ghost Rider – and Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige is equally eager to cast him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
MTV News's Josh Horowitz tweeted earlier in June (below) that Gosling denied rumours he'd be playing Nova in the upcoming MCU project but said he would like to play Ghost Rider. When Feige was asked about it at San Diego Comic-Con, he didn't mention Ghost Rider specifically but said he'd love to cast the Drive actor in some way.
"Ryan's amazing. I'd love to find a place for him in the MCU," Feige told MTV News. "He's dressed up as Ken on Venice Beach [and] he gets more press than giant movies coming out that weekend. It's amazing."
Will @RyanGosling be #GhostRider and what does the future hold for #HarryStyles in the #MCU? #KevinFeige give @joshhorowitz the scoop at #SDCC2022. pic.twitter.com/KEVBWEJr5d
— MTV NEWS (@MTVNEWS) July 24, 2022
Ghost Rider wasn't one of the several new Marvel films or TV shows announced during Comic-Con and Marvel hasn't explicitly mentioned the character appearing in the MCU before, but seeing how far and wide the universe is expanding it wouldn't really be a surprise to see it eventually. However, previously we've seen The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus seemingly pitch for the role.
Feige himself explained that the MCU is now open enough to encompass the character – who, if you don't know, began as a stunt biker who sells his soul and becomes a skeletal spirit of vengeance. "You talk about Ghost Rider," said Feige. "We've got Blade, we've got Doctor Strange, we've got the supernatural angles."
Ghost Rider previously appeared in Marvel's Agents of SHIELD, but there's some debate over whether that show could be considered MCU canon.
Gosling has a fairly busy schedule at the moment anyway, having just released The Gray Man (with MCU royalty Chris Evans and The Russo brothers directing), recently wrapped filming on Barbie, and he's also involved with a number of upcoming projects including Wolfman, The Fall Guy, The Actor, and Project Hail Mary.
Ghost Rider last made a film appearance with 2012's Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance starring Nicolas Cage. In our 8/10 review, we said: "The film bears little relation to the original 2007 adventure of Cage's cursed Johnny Blaze, which surely was seen as a blessing."
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.