Start your engines, Marvel fans, because Ghost Rider is coming back to the big screen. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige kicked off the company's SDCC panel with a major announcement: Ryan Gosling will play the MCU's Ghost Rider. The new film featuring the Spirit of Vengeance will be directed by Shawn Levy of Deadpool & Wolverine fame, and is set for release in 2028. This is a huge deal for the MCU, given Gosling's star power and the fact that Ghost Rider hasn't been seen in a movie since 2011's Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, the second film starring Nicolas Cage.
But one big question went unanswered at the panel: which Ghost Rider is Gosling playing? There are multiple incarnations in Marvel comics, and the lack of confirmation has fueled speculation. Let's explore the possibilities for the MCU's Ghost Rider.
Johnny Blaze
Johnny Blaze is the most recognizable Ghost Rider. First appearing in Marvel Spotlight 5 in 1972, he is a motorcycle stuntman who sold his soul to Mephisto to cure his mentor Crash Simpson of cancer, only for Crash to die in a stunt accident. When the devil came to collect, Johnny's girlfriend Roxanne Simpson saved him, and he bonded with the Spirit of Vengeance, gaining a flaming skull and a motorcycle. He became a vigilante punishing evildoers. Johnny's solo comic ran for 80 issues, and he has remained a recurring figure in Marvel, appearing in the Nicolas Cage films and numerous video games.
If Marvel chooses Johnny Blaze, the film could follow his origin story. However, that might feel simplistic given the MCU's advanced stage. Johnny doesn't have a strong rogues gallery—his main adversary is Mephisto, though some obscure villains like the Orb or Steel Wind exist. One memorable comic storyline even involved Johnny receiving help from Jesus Christ, written by Jenny Blake Isabella but altered by editor Jim Shooter. Pairing Johnny with another hero could make sense, especially if that hero is Danny Ketch.
Danny Ketch
Daniel "Danny" Ketch debuted in 1990 as the next Ghost Rider. While visiting a graveyard with his sister Barbara, he stumbled into a gang confrontation. Barbara was wounded, and Danny found a motorcycle with a glowing gas cap, touching it and becoming the new Spirit of Vengeance. Barbara later died at the hands of the villain Blackout, who became Danny's nemesis. Danny's solo series lasted longer than Johnny's and was arguably more popular, introducing key elements like the Penance Stare, the power transferability of the Rider, and villains like Deathwatch.
The biggest reason Danny might be in the MCU's plans is the Ghost Rider and Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance comic, featuring Johnny and Danny working together. They were later revealed as half-brothers and founding members of the Midnight Sons, a team of supernatural antiheroes who battled Lilith, the Mother of Demons. A Ghost Rider movie with Johnny and Danny as co-leads seems more likely than a solo origin film. Gosling could play Johnny as a mentor to a younger actor playing Danny. This could set up a Midnight Sons crossover, especially with the Blade solo movie reportedly dead and rumors of a Midnight Sons film starring Mahershala Ali.
Robbie Reyes
Robbie Reyes is another Ghost Rider, played by Gabriel Luna on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4 featured Johnny Blaze passing the Spirit of Vengeance to Robbie. However, that show has been largely ignored by the broader MCU. The question remains: will the new film retcon this, or acknowledge Robbie? The most likely outcome is that Secret Wars will reset the timeline, allowing Marvel freedom to do anything. But Robbie is one of the few Latino superheroes in Marvel, so throwing him out would be a mistake. Perhaps the new film could integrate Robbie as a younger Ghost Rider alongside Gosling's character.
Cosmic Ghost Rider
Cosmic Ghost Rider is a bizarre variant—a version of Frank Castle (the Punisher) who made a deal with Mephisto after death and later gained cosmic power from Galactus. He sought revenge on Thanos for destroying Earth. While hilarious to imagine Gosling in that costume, this is highly unlikely for the MCU's first Ghost Rider film. Maybe in later phases, but not now.
Marvel's announcement has fans speculating wildly, and the choice of Ghost Rider will shape the MCU's supernatural corner. Whether it's Johnny Blaze, Danny Ketch, or a combination, Ryan Gosling's casting signals a major commitment to the character. The film, directed by Shawn Levy, promises a fresh take on the Spirit of Vengeance. Only time will tell which version rides onto the screen, but one thing is certain: the Ghost Rider is back, and the MCU will never be the same.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment News