SAN DIEGO (AP) — Actor Ryan Gosling is set to take on the role of Ghost Rider in a new Marvel Cinematic Universe film, with a planned release date of 2028. The project will bring Gosling back together with director Shawn Levy, who previously helmed “Star Wars: Starfighter” with the actor.
The announcement came Saturday at Comic-Con International’s Hall H in San Diego, where Gosling appeared alongside Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige in front of a crowd of roughly 7,000 enthusiastic fans. Many attendees were sporting Doctor Doom masks that had been distributed by the studio ahead of the event.
The Ghost Rider character has a notable personal connection for Gosling — his longtime partner, Eva Mendes, appeared in the original standalone “Ghost Rider” film alongside Nicolas Cage, which hit theaters in 2007, one year before “Iron Man” launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A follow-up film was released by Sony in 2012, and while the rights to the character have since returned to Marvel, Ghost Rider has yet to make an appearance within the MCU.
During the event, Feige also revealed to the audience that the 2019 blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame,” directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, will return to theaters on September 25 featuring new footage that will connect it to the Russos’ upcoming film “Avengers: Doomsday,” scheduled for release on December 18.
The highly anticipated Comic-Con panel drew fans who had waited over 24 hours in line for a chance to get inside. The event also featured appearances from Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal.
