Ryan Gosling Rumored to Make His Ghost Rider Debut in AVENGERS: SECRET WARS Before His Solo Movie
Ryan Gosling might be bringing some hellfire to the MCU sooner than expected! A new Marvel rumor claims the actor will make his debut as Johnny Blaze, aka Ghost Rider, in Avengers: Secret Wars before getting his own standalone movie.
According to Marvel scooper @blueminutes on X, Gosling's Ghost Rider will first appear in Avengers: Secret Wars, giving fans their first look at his version of the supernatural antihero. Fellow insider @MyTimeToShineHello appeared to support the report with a simple response: “True.”
Of course, Marvel Studios hasn't confirmed the character's involvement in Secret Wars, so this remains a rumor for now. Still, introducing Ghost Rider in one of the MCU's biggest upcoming crossover events could be a pretty awesome way to bring Johnny Blaze into the franchise.
There are also story details about Gosling's solo Ghost Rider movie, which will reportedly take a different approach to the character's life before things go straight to hell.
According to the report, Johnny Blaze starts out living what appears to be the perfect life. He's married with two kids, works at a local auto repair shop, and lives in a small town where everyone seems to love him.
Things start getting strange when Johnny begins experiencing terrifying nightmares filled with monsters. His seemingly ideal existence starts feeling more like a trap, with the rumor describing him seeing his life “like a prison. And there’s a spirit in him that’s begging to break out.”
That's an interesting direction for Ghost Rider, especially if Johnny has no idea what's really happening to him or what's lurking inside. It could make for a fun supernatural mystery before the character fully embraces his fiery alter ego.
There have also been reports about which Marvel villains might appear in the film, with Mephisto, Lilith, and Blackheart all mentioned as possible antagonists. None of those characters have been confirmed, though, and Marvel has yet to announce any additional cast members.
Gosling's casting as Ghost Rider was officially announced earlier this year during Marvel Studios' Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, where the actor surprised fans by appearing onstage.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige later revealed that Gosling himself was the driving force behind getting the project made. The standalone movie will be directed by Shawn Levy, with Jonathan Tropper writing the screenplay. It's currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 28, 2028.
If the Secret Wars rumor turns out to be true, fans won't have to wait until 2028 to see Gosling transform into the Spirit of Vengeance. It would also give Marvel an opportunity to introduce the character to a massive audience before sending him off on his own supernatural adventure.