Disney and Marvel Studios have set an official theatrical release date of July 28, 2028, for their upcoming Ghost Rider feature film starring Ryan Gosling.
The studio updated its theatrical calendar to lock in the release date for the comic book adaptation, which will mark one of the first major projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe following Avengers: Secret Wars.
The feature will serve as Marvel Studios' second film to open in theaters in 2028, though it is the third project listed for that calendar year. The studio's 2028 theatrical slate will open on May 5 with a new X-Men film, followed by Ghost Rider on July 28, and will conclude on December 15 with Black Panther 3.
Marvel Studios originally announced Gosling's casting as the character a few weeks ago, but at the time had only placed the project within an unspecified 2028 window. Disney's calendar update formally confirmed the late July date.
Director and Screenplay
Shawn Levy is set to direct the movie, while Jonathan Tropper will write the screenplay. Marvel Studios is currently keeping story details for the project under secrecy.
The film marks another collaboration between Levy and Gosling, who are also working together on Star Wars: Starfighter. Tropper is writing the script for that Star Wars film as well, which is scheduled to hit theaters in 2027 with Gosling starring as the lead character.
Gosling, who also stars in Project Hail Mary, has established an ongoing partnership with Disney through these franchise roles. The actor had expressed interest for several years in playing Ghost Rider before pitching Marvel Studios.
Comic Roots and Character Vision
Gosling personally approached Marvel Studios with a concrete proposal for how he wanted to handle the project. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that the actor presented a clear creative vision grounded in specific comic books.
Feige left the announcement of which version of Ghost Rider will appear in the film to Gosling. Marvel has not officially confirmed whether Gosling will play Johnny Blaze, the best-known identity of Ghost Rider, though industry expectations center on that incarnation.
Previous Ghost Rider Screen Adaptations
Ghost Rider is a Marvel Comics antihero known as a stunt motorcyclist who transforms into a flaming, supernatural vigilante. The character has previously been adapted for both film and television projects.
Nicolas Cage previously played Johnny Blaze in two feature films released in 2007 and 2011. On television, actor Gabriel Luna portrayed the Robbie Reyes version of the character in the fourth season of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
