Quick summary
- Nicolas Cage told The Hollywood Reporter on 4 November that he is looking forward to seeing Ryan Gosling play Ghost Rider.
- Marvel Studios announced the casting at Comic-Con in July 2026, and the film is scheduled for cinemas on 28 July 2028.
- Shawn Levy is attached as director.
- Separately, Gosling’s 2016 comedy The Nice Guys is the most popular movie on Apple TV’s US chart, according to MovieWeb.
The man who wore the flaming skull first has given his successor a vote of confidence. The Express Tribune reports that Nicolas Cage, who played the Marvel character in 2007 and again in 2012, said at the premiere of his new film Madden on 4 November that he can’t wait to see what Ryan Gosling does with the role. It is a warm note in a week that also finds one of Gosling’s older films back at the top of a streaming chart.
What Nicolas Cage said about the Ghost Rider casting
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, as relayed by The Express Tribune, Cage kept his comments short and generous. “Ryan’s going to do his thing with it and I’m looking forward to seeing it,” he said.
He also said the two actors are in touch. “Ryan knows how I feel about him as an actor; we’ve had nice conversations and we stay in touch,” Cage added, wishing Gosling the best with the project.
That matters because Cage is the face most people still associate with Johnny Blaze, the motorcycle stunt rider who becomes a bounty hunter of demons. He starred in 2007’s Ghost Rider and returned for 2012’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. Few actors get a public blessing from the previous holder of a role, and Cage’s tone suggests no awkwardness about the handover.
A personal link to the original film
There is a family angle, too. Eva Mendes, Gosling’s wife, appeared opposite Cage in the 2007 film. The Express Tribune says she has publicly supported her husband taking on the character.
Gosling’s own enthusiasm is on record. After Marvel announced the casting at Comic-Con in July 2026, he said Ghost Rider was a character he had wanted to play for a long time, according to the same report.
What we know about the Marvel film
The film is dated for 28 July 2028, almost two years away, with Levy attached as director. Details beyond that are thin. The Express Tribune reports that Connor Storrie, known for Heated Rivalry, is reportedly in talks to play the villain. That is a report only, and his involvement has not been confirmed. We cover that thread in more detail in our Connor Storrie role rumour piece.
Cage, meanwhile, is busy with a very different part. He plays the football coach John Madden in Madden, directed by David O Russell, which gets a limited cinema release before streaming on Prime Video from 18 November.
The Nice Guys finds a second life on streaming
In a separate piece of Gosling news, MovieWeb reports that the 2016 buddy comedy The Nice Guys is now No. 1 on Apple TV’s list of most popular movies in the United States. It sits above titles including Prisoners and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
The chart position is a long way from the film’s cinema run. Directed by Shane Black, it pairs Gosling’s down-at-heel private detective Holland March with Russell Crowe‘s enforcer Jackson Healy as they search for a missing girl in 1970s Los Angeles. It grossed only $62.8 million against a $50 million budget, which MovieWeb describes as an unsuccessful return.
Critics were kinder. The film holds a 91% critics’ score and a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, per MovieWeb, which also notes that a sequel has never moved forward despite the story leaving room for one. For more on the chart run, see our earlier post on The Nice Guys climbing the Apple TV chart.
What happens next
Nothing on Ghost Rider is likely to move quickly. With a July 2028 release date, further casting and plot news will probably arrive in stages, and Marvel has not confirmed Storrie’s reported role. Everything we publish on the actor is gathered on our Ryan Gosling page, and our earlier story on Cage backing the reboot has the first reaction.
Frequently asked questions
Who is playing Ghost Rider in the new Marvel film?
Ryan Gosling. Marvel Studios announced the casting at Comic-Con in July 2026, with Shawn Levy attached as director.
When is the new Ghost Rider movie out?
It is scheduled to reach cinemas on 28 July 2028.
What did Nicolas Cage say about Gosling taking over?
Cage said he is looking forward to seeing Gosling’s version and that the two stay in touch, as reported from his Hollywood Reporter interview.
Is The Nice Guys really the top movie on Apple TV?
According to MovieWeb, it is currently No. 1 on Apple TV’s US list of most popular movies.
One Response