Ryan Gosling’s Ghost Rider to Appear in Avengers: Secret Wars Before Solo Movie; Mephisto Reportedly Returns in Shawn Levy’s Ghost Rider

Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the upcoming Ghost Rider movie.

Marvel Studios announced the Ghost Rider movie during the Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, with Ryan Gosling appearing as the Flame-Head and Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy set to direct the movie.

According to a report by Jeff Sneider (The InSneider), he has shared some updated casting details and Ghost Rider’s first appearance in Avengers: Secret Wars before the solo movie. That’s a great way to debut Ghost Rider in the MCU, building excitement for the standalone film. Jeff confirms that Gosling will be playing the Johnny Blaze version of the character.

Jeff also revealed that casting is underway for Johnny Blaze’s reported love interest. According to him, Rosamund Pike is currently the top contender for the role. Pike, an Oscar-nominated actress, is said to be “age-appropriate,” as she is 47 while Gosling is 45.

According to a scooper, Marvel Studios wants to include Nightcrawler in Ghost Rider. If not him, then another mutant will be in the movie. If that happens, we’ll see the “origins of some of the main X-Men characters” in other movies before they come together as a team in X-Men.

Mephisto Returns in Marvel’s Ghost Rider, But He’s Not the Main Villain

One of the biggest pieces of news is that Mephisto is returning to the MCU and will appear in Ghost Rider. Last year, Sacha Baron Cohen‘s Mephisto appeared in the Ironheart series, where he confirmed that he had a major plan to carry out on Earth. Since Mephisto is appearing in the movie, Jeff confirms that he won’t be the main villain.

We have already learned that Mephisto is set to play a major role in the supernatural side of the next MCU saga.

Speaking to ComicBook.com at SDCC, Marvel boss Kevin Feige said that Gosling approached Marvel Studios and pitched his own idea for playing Ghost Rider.

“He’s a huge fan of the comics. He came to us with a specific vision based on some particular comics.”

Marvel Studios’ Ghost Rider is set to hit theaters in 2028.

Upcoming Marvel Studios Projects

Phase 6

• Vision Quest — October 14, 2026
• Avengers: Doomsday — December 18, 2026
• Avengers: Secret Wars — December 17, 2027

Phase 7

• Untitled Marvel Film — May 5, 2028
• Ghost Rider — July 28, 2028
• Black Panther III — December 15, 2028
• Untitled Marvel Film — May 4, 2029
• Untitled Marvel Film — July 13, 2029