Nicolas Cage has given his blessing to Ryan Gosling’s turn as Ghost Rider, nearly two decades after he first played Marvel’s flaming-skulled motorcyclist.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere of his new film “Madden,” Cage said he was happy for Gosling and wished him luck. He plans to see the movie. “Ryan’s going to do his thing with it,” Cage said. The two actors, he added, have talked on friendly terms and keep in touch, and Gosling knows how highly Cage rates him.
Cage played stuntman Johnny Blaze in 2007’s “Ghost Rider” and its sequel, “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,” which came out in the United States in early 2012. The two Sony films together earned more than $361 million worldwide. Reviews of both were mostly negative.
Marvel Studios announced Gosling’s casting in July at San Diego Comic-Con, where Kevin Feige revealed the project from the stage of Hall H. Shawn Levy directs from a script by Jonathan Tropper, and the film is due in theaters in 2028. Levy and Gosling teamed up last year on “Star Wars: Starfighter,” and the director said Gosling’s pitch for the character made him ready to “ride.”
Gosling has wanted the part for years. He said in 2022 that he would be interested, and Feige responded warmly. In March, while promoting “Project Hail Mary,” Gosling confirmed that talks with Marvel had taken place and called it a complicated situation. He also joked that he was happy “one of us” got to play the role, an apparent nod to Cage. Eva Mendes, Gosling’s longtime partner, co-starred in the 2007 film.
Others who worked on the earlier films have weighed in as well. Scott M. Gimple, who co-wrote “Spirit of Vengeance,” said the character has evolved over the past two decades and suggested the new film aim for a darker tone than either of Cage’s movies delivered.
Marvel has not released a plot summary or announced additional cast.
