Ryan Gosling recently suggested he wants to play the role of Ghost Rider in the MCU, and he might be the perfect actor to play the iconic hero.
Ryan Gosling is one of the most accomplished and acclaimed actors working today. He has been the star of several high-profile films and worked with some of today's best directors. He is an actor who immediately draws the attention of audiences and critics when he is on-screen. He has often been one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood and various studios have gone after him for franchises from Suicide Squad, The Lone Ranger, and even Doctor Strange, yet he has always turned them down.
Additionally, Gosling shot down casting rumors that he would appear as Nova in the MCU, which is unsurprising given his track trecord. Shooting down an MCU casting rumor is nothing new, but what was more interesting is that Gosling said there was a superhero he would like to play: Ghost Rider. This drew the interest of many fans, particularly noting that Gosling's wife Eva Mendes starred in the 2007 film Ghost Rider. While it was just Gosling having fun, at San Diego Comic-Con 2022, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige addressed Gosling by mentioning that they'd very much like to work with the actor.
While Gosling is not at this moment playing Ghost Rider, the fact that he has expressed interest in the part and that Feige wants Gosling for something suggests that talks may be in the works. While there are many incarnations of Ghost Rider, the most popular is Johnny Blaze, which was created by writer Gary Friedrich, artist Mike Ploog, and Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Roy Thomas in 1972. The character's iconic design of a flaming skull on a motorcycle made him an instant favorite with fans and became a mainstay in the Marvel Universe.
The character received two film adaptations, with Nicolas Cage playing the titular role in 2007's Ghost Rider and then in 2012's Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. The rights have since reverted to Marvel Studios, and while hinted at on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. both with the Robbie Reyes incarnation of the character but also a cameo by Johnny Blaze's Ghost Rider, the character has yet to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe properly.
However, it appears Marvel Studios is investing far more in their supernatural and horror-based characters like Blade and Moon Knight, meaning Ghost Rider likely isn't far behind. With Gosling throwing his name into the ring, here is why he is the perfect choice for Ghost Rider in the MCU.
For most of his career, Gosling has been known for smaller, more character-centric projects over big blockbusters. While some of his films like The Notebook and Crazy Stupid Love had mainstream appeal, and La La Land broke out with audiences, most of his career has been defined by taking on unconventional roles. Lars and the Real Girl played against his leading man status, Drive was marketed as an action film but was a quieter and more moody experiment than audiences were expecting, Half Nelson found him as a scrawny crack cocaine user, and First Man was much sterner and more different from the awards-contending, traditional Hollywood biopic many likely expected. He has dabbled in potential franchises before though, with both The Nice Guys and Blade Runner 2049, and while those garnered a lot of critical acclaim they underperformed at the box office.
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In recent years, likely because he has kids, Gosling has started to experiment in more franchise roles. Gosling most notably will appear as Ken in Barbie, set for release in July 2023, and he recently appeared in the action film The Gray Man on Netflix, which has been greenlit for a sequel with Gosling. He is also set to appear in a remake of The Wolfman for Universal Pictures, and Gosling is very hands-on with crafting that film, bringing on frequent collaborator Derek M. Cianfrance (who directed Gosling in Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines). Gosling's interest in Ghost Rider suggests the actor is looking to grow his filmography, not only taking on a superhero role but being part of a franchise that is popular with families all over the world.
While Gosling saying he would like to be Ghost Rider would normally be wish fulfillment, Gosling being cast as Ghost Rider would not be the first time an actor has campaigned for a Marvel Studios role. When it was first announced Marvel was developing a movie based on Shang-Chi, Simu Liu posted on Twitter how he wanted the role. While that was not the reason he got cast in the part, it certainly was a case of an actor pitching themselves to Marvel.
Most famously though, Mahershala Ali reportedly approached Marvel Studios after winning his second Academy Award. He pitched Marvel Studios on Blade, and while the character was likely one Marvel Studios was considering, Ali using his prestige to approach Marvel Studios for the part likely made the studio bump the project up in terms of priority. While Gosling might not have the number of awards Ali does, he has a respectable film career with prestigious and critically acclaimed roles that make him a high priority for any studio.
Looking at Gosling's filmography, one notices the actor has worked with many people who would go on to become important figures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He earned an Academy Award nomination for his role in Half Nelson which was directed by future Captain Marvel directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. He starred in The Nice Guys by Iron Man 3 director Shane Black. Most recently, he starred in The Gray Man from Marvel Studio's mainstays The Russo Brothers.
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Gosling seemed to have a great time working with those filmmakers, and they likely had a great time working with him, and while it is not exactly likely that any of the mentioned filmmakers would helm a Ghost Rider movie or that Gosling would work with them in the MCU, they all certainly could put in a good word for him.
Marvel goes for the approach of the best actor for a role, however, one does see trends pop up in the studio's history. Certain characters or a subset of characters are often cast with more comedic actors, while sometimes they go for unknowns, and in some cases, they want a big star. The supernatural side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is being filled up with not just high-profile stars but serious character actors who are often awards contenders.
Gosling was considered for the role of Doctor Strange, and the role eventually went to Benedict Cumberbatch. Marvel cast Oscar Isaac, one of the best-regarded actors working today, as Moon Knight. Gael García Bernal has been cast in the Halloween special, with the main rumors pointing that it will be the character Werewolf by Night. As mentioned previously, Mahershala Ali has won two Academy Awards and will be leading Blade. If the plan is to unite the various monster heroes into some team be it the Legion of Monsters or the Midnight Suns, Ghost Rider needs a particularly high-profile respected actor, and Gosling fits the bill.
Marvel Studios doesn't just cast one film; they are casting for the future and how a certain star and performer will play off another character and their performers. In many ways, the Marvel team-up films have become the equivalent of the big all-star cast spectacles like It's A Mad Mad World or the 1974 Murder on the Orient Express, being a showcase to see various actors work alongside one another. Gosling already worked alongside Isaac in Drive, but the prospect of seeing Gosling share the screen with Ali, Isaac, and Bernal is an appealing draw to any audience member, even ones not interested in Marvel superhero movies.
Gosling also fits the bill because of his extensive experience with vehicles in films. Ghost Rider is often associated with a motorcycle (Johnny Blaze being a stunt motorcyclist), and Gosling mastered that vehicle in the film The Place Beyond the Pines. His work in Drive, as well, shows the actor's obvious affinity for vehicles and chase sequences. Putting Gosling on a motorcycle in the MCU seems like a no-brainer.
Ghost Rider joining the MCU is an interesting case for Marvel Studios. Unlike characters such as Iron Man, Thor, Shang-Chi, or The Guardians of the Galaxy who Marvel got to cast the first incarnations of, Ghost Rider has already been featured in not just one movie, but two films both featuring one of the most famous and prolific actors around, Nicolas Cage. Recasting a part that audiences already know is difficult, and Ghost Rider not only was played by a famous star but those two earlier Ghost Rider films are not well regarded by fans or general audiences. To general audiences, that is their association with the character and that is an obstacle Marvel will have to overcome, to get people back on board with this character and concept.
Casting Gosling as Ghost Rider sends a very clear picture to audience members that this will be a very different version of the character than they are used to. Gosling's involvement also signals this movie will be special as the actor has notoriously been very particular about what projects he takes on. Gosling as Ghost Rider could mark an exciting new chapter for the iconic character.
Richard Fink is a writer who graduated from Arizona State University in 2016 with a degree in Film and Media Production. He loves the finer things in life, like cold Diet Coke on a hot summer day. Richard is a fan of all things Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and Film History.