Shawn Levy’s ‘Ghost Rider,’ Starring Ryan Gosling, Sets July 28, 2028 Release Date

UPDATE: It’s official, Ryan Gosling has joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He will play Ghost Rider in a new standalone movie, directed by Shawn Levy. A 2027 shoot is planned.

Today, we learned that “Ghost Rider” has been dated for July 28, 2028 — a summer release that hints at Marvel’s confidence in this project. Levy’s film will be sandwiched in the 2028 release calendar between ‘X-Men,’ which comes out in May, and ‘Black Panther 3,’ set for December.

Gosling and Levy must have really hit it off on the set of “Star Wars: Starfighter,” which hits theaters next year. They have also brought along ‘Starfighter’ scribe Jonathan Tropper to write the ‘Ghost Rider’ screenplay.

The Oscar-nominated actor has long expressed interest in playing the fiery antihero, and now it sounds like that dream could finally become reality. Gosling recently confirmed that discussions were very much “alive” and that he could one day saddle up as Johnny Blaze.

Nicolas Cage previously played Blaze in the 2007 film as a motorcycle stuntman who sold his soul and was forced to hunt demons that had escaped from Hell. Cage returned for the botched 2011 sequel, “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.” Coincidentally, Eva Mendes, Gosling’s partner, starred opposite Cage.

Is this a good idea for Gosling? Entering the MCU? Really? He earned an Oscar nomination just two years ago for “Barbie,” and could very well receive another Best Actor nomination this year for “Project Hail Mary.” Sure, he loves the Ghost Rider character, but maybe this isn’t the right move. Marvel has become an unpredictable place for even the biggest stars, and committing to a major franchise could tie him down for years.

Coming off the success of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” Levy was recently hired to direct “Star Wars: Starfighter,” which is set to release next May. Levy is also the stalwart filmmaker behind “Big Fat Liar,” “Just Married,” “Cheaper by the Dozen,” “The Internship,” “Real Steel,” the “Pink Panther” reboot, “Free Guy” and the “Night at the Museum” trilogy. Not a single good movie in the bunch.