Marvel's "Ghost Rider" just hired one of the best cinematographers working today. Per THR, Linus Sandgren will serve as cinematographer on Shawn Levy's MCU flick, and, most notably, the project will be shot on film. Production is set to kick off in New York next year.
The film part shouldn't come as a surprise. Sandgren is among the loudest champions of celluloid over digital. He has a well-known preference for 35mm and 65mm, and has argued that film delivers "an emotional quality digital simply can't match." He did just that on "Dune: Part Three," convincing Denis Villeneuve, whose first two instalments were shot digitally, to shoot the third chapter on film, including IMAX 65mm.
The Swedish DP's credits include "La La Land" (which won him an Oscar), "Saltburn," "Babylon," and "No Time to Die," along with Noah Baumbach's "Jay Kelly." Now he's heading into the MCU, a franchise that, frankly, desperately, needs some visual personality.
Hopefully, Sandgren isn't held back by too many constraints. Marvel movies have long been criticized for their flat, gray, digital look. Putting a Ghost Rider movie in Sandgren's hands on actual film stock is the most promising creative decision the studio has made in a while.
That being said, Shawn Levy is directing "Ghost Rider," and I have yet to like a single one of his movies. He's made plenty, many of them commercial successes, including "Deadpool & Wolverine," "Night at the Museum," "Free Guy," "Real Steel," and "Cheaper by the Dozen."
Meanwhile, THR also reports that Connor Storrie, who broke out with the viral hockey drama "Heated Rivalry," is in talks to star opposite Gosling. His story is remarkable. Storrie, who until recently was waiting tables to pay the bills, has already shot three movies this year, all set for 2027: Sarah Polley's "The Bell Jar," Craig Zobel's "Turpentine," and Molly Gordon's "Peaked," the latter an A24 shindig.
As a refresher, Marvel announced "Ghost Rider" at San Diego Comic-Con this summer, with Gosling starring and Levy directing for a 2028 release. The idea grew out of Gosling and Levy's collaboration on "Star Wars: Starfighter," and Jonathan Tropper, who wrote "Starfighter," is penning the script.
Marvel's "Ghost Rider" just hired one of the best cinematographers working today. Linus Sandgren will serve as DP on Shawn Levy's MCU flick, and, most notably, the project will be shot on film.