Ryan Gosling has expressed his interest in playing the fiery character of Ghost Rider in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This revelation came during his recent appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.
Gosling, known for his versatile roles in films like The Notebook, Drive, and La La Land, has been a rumored contender for the role of Marvel Studios’ Nova. However, he put those rumors to rest, stating that his sights are set on the flaming skull of Ghost Rider.
Ryan Gosling reveals he’s interested in playing Ghost Rider in the MCU to Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt then says not staring in Superhero films feels like a “badge of honor” for her and Ryan Gosling
(via: @joshuahorowitz) pic.twitter.com/xy8jkif78C
— ScreenTime (@screentime) May 17, 2024
Last year, Gosling, an Oscar-nominated actor known for his roles in films like ‘Barbie,’ ‘Drive,’ and ‘Place Beyond the Pines,’ shared his dream of playing Ghost Rider with interviewer Josh Horowitz. This information was then personally relayed to Kevin Feige, the head of the MCU, putting Gosling in the running for the role alongside other A-listers like Keanu Reeves.
Gosling’s interest in the supernatural character aligns with the MCU’s recent trend of exploring supernatural stories, as seen in ‘Werewolf at Night’ and the upcoming ‘Agatha All Along.’ This could set the stage for Ghost Rider’s debut in the MCU.
When asked about Feige’s reaction to his interest in the role, Gosling described it as a “magical moment.” He said,
“I told Josh I would like to play Ghost Rider. He found Kevin Feige, corners him, and does an interview with him. When he says, ‘I would like this,’ all the lights go off.”
However, when asked about any progress on this front, Gosling remained elusive, responding with a simple “I don’t know.” This has only fueled the anticipation among fans and the media.
I’m just trying to help Ryan Gosling to realize his dreams — namely playing Ghost Rider. pic.twitter.com/yHcx1DnkNQ
— Josh Horowitz (@joshuahorowitz) May 17, 2024
For years, Marvel Studios has owned the rights to Robbie Reyes, although the version of the character was only briefly introduced into the MCU via the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. However, for a long time already rumors and leaks have repeatedly talked about the preparation for the debut of the original Ghost Rider in the MCU, Johnny Blaze.
Gosling has previously turned down many superhero roles without naming them, stating,
“It doesn’t matter. I wasn’t right for it. But I would love to do it.” It seems he’s waiting for the right character, and Ghost Rider might be it.
Gosling’s pitch also received a good reception from Marvel Studios’ president, Kevin Feige, who said that he would “love to make a way for him to join us at the MCU”. The character has already attracted a lot of public attention, and the fans are excited to see Gosling play the role.
Ghost Rider, known as Johnny Blaze, a stuntman performing under that pseudonym, was created by Roy Thomas, Gary Friedrich, and Mike Ploog. Blaze is generally known to the public because of Nicolas Cage’s two movies; yet, they are not in the MCU. The movies were released in 2007 and 2012.
When Marvel Studios obtained the rights for the character, they had already planned to create a Ghost Rider film. These efforts were stopped to intensify work on the MCU’s film opposite number. The most recent characters to be included in the supernatural part are Blade, Moon Knight, and Werewolf by Night implying the many probabilities that Gosling will indeed get his request regarding Gosling playing Ghost Rider.
Gosling, while enthusiastic about superhero movies, actress Emily Blunt is skeptical about the superhero industry. Blunt does not like female roles in superhero movies as she thinks soo many of them are thankless, so she does not have the burning desire to play a superhero. Although fans are excited to see her in Fantastic Four, she replied that superhero movies might not be her tea. I think Blunt prefers the character’s creative idea to the film’s genre.
Gosling’s desire to be part of Ghost Rider and Blunt’s aversion to superhero films emphasize the range of viewpoints actors take on the superhero genre. With the proliferation of the MCU and its development, Aether, how these viewpoints influence the trajectory of superhero cinema in the upcoming years remains to be seen. Was Gosling’s Ghost Rider roasted at the screen? Time can only tell.
