As you know, this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a very long time,
Ryan Gosling told the crowd at San Diego Comic-Con when Marvel Studios dropped the surprise announcement of its upcoming Ghost Rider film.
That project is now taking shape as Connor Storrie is in talks to play the antagonist opposite Gosling, according to reports from Deadline, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter. Knight Edge Media originally reported Storrie’s attachment to the production, while Marvel Studios declined to comment on the casting talks.
Shawn Levy Directs Film Shooting in New York
The film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 28, 2028, positioning it as the third Marvel Studios theatrical release planned for that year, following an untitled X-Men film in May and preceding Black Panther 3 in December. Cameras are set to roll in New York next year, with filming planned to take place on film stock rather than digitally.
Linus Sandgren, director of photography for Dune: Part Three, has been hired as the cinematographer. Shawn Levy will direct the feature, working from a screenplay written by Jonathan Tropper, reuniting the creative team from Star Wars: Starfighter. Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Stephen Broussard, Shawn Levy, and Ryan Gosling are producing the project, with Richie Palmer and Jessie Henderson serving as executive producers.
Character Origins and Unconfirmed Roles
Although Marvel has confirmed Gosling as the lead, the studio has not officially verified whether he will portray Johnny Blaze—the original motorcycle stuntman created by writer Gary Friedrich, artist Mike Ploog, and editor Roy Thomas who first appeared in 1972’s Marvel Spotlight No. 5—or another incarnation of the character such as Robbie Reyes, who was previously played by Gabriel Luna on the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nicolas Cage previously starred as Johnny Blaze in the 2007 film Ghost Rider and its 2011 sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.
Because the specific version of the hero remains unconfirmed, Marvel has also not revealed which character Storrie would embody in his villainous role. Ghost Rider’s comic book history features several demonic antagonists, including Blackheart and Mephisto. Mephisto was previously portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen in the Disney+ series Ironheart, though Cohen recently stated he had no knowledge of the new project.
Storrie’s Rapid Rise to Stardom
For Storrie, landing a major antagonist role in a marquee superhero franchise marks a rapid ascent in Hollywood. Prior to his breakout performance as Russian hockey star Ilya Romanov in the hockey drama Heated Rivalry—which became a significant hit for HBO Max and Crave and is currently filming its second season—the Texas native supported himself by waiting tables at Laurel Grill in Culver City.
Following the show’s debut in November 2025, Storrie earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for a guest-hosting stint on Saturday Night Live. He has since built a substantial slate of upcoming film projects, including Sarah Polley’s adaptation of The Bell Jar for Focus Features, Craig Zobel’s thriller Turpentine opposite Melissa McCarthy, Halina Reijn’s Please for A24, and Molly Gordon’s Peaked, in addition to writing and directing his own indie film, Transaction Planet.
