Ryan Gosling Playing His Dream Marvel Role In The MCU Just Got An Exciting Boost

Ryan Gosling is one of the brightest Hollywood stars who still hasn’t joined the MCU, but his chances just got a lot better. Gosling is a rare actor who can headline a blockbuster one week and give a powerhouse dramatic performance the next. His star has risen over the last decade, with tentpole hits like Barbie under his belt.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has spent the last two decades gobbling up talent, often casting the biggest names as heroes and villains from the comics. Gosling has yet to be cast in the MCU, but he is certainly on their radar. It was always a dream to see Gosling in an MCU movie, and it could become a reality soon.

Ryan Gosling Has Had Discussions With Marvel About Playing His Dream Role

Stretching back to 2025, rumors swirled that Ryan Gosling would be joining the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday. It was speculated that he would appear in the massive team-up film as Marvel’s legendary anti-hero, Ghost Rider. Gosling has long been championing himself to play the part, chalking it up as a dream scenario for his inclusion in the MCU.

During a recent podcast appearance, Gosling was asked directly if he could provide any updates about his casting. The actor was quite evasive, saying only that “Some discussions have been had. It’s a complicated situation.” Though the answer seems vague, it does reveal that Gosling has been in talks. That’s a major update to what were only rumors last year.

It could be that Gosling is sworn to secrecy, or that he had nothing interesting to report. Describing it as “complicated” does seem to suggest that wheels are turning. There are bound to be a lot of surprises in Avengers: Doomsday, and Gosling could be deliberately trying to throw fans off the scent. Regardless, both parties are showing interest.

Why Ryan Gosling Playing Ghost Rider In The MCU Is A Complicated Situation

The prospect of Ryan Gosling playing Ghost Rider is exciting, but it also comes with a few complications. For starters, there isn’t really a clean place for him to slot into the MCU right now. Shoehorning Ghost Rider into the cast of Avengers: Doomsday won’t do the character justice, and he’s bound to get lost in the shuffle.

A throwaway cameo could set up a solo film eventually, but Ghost Rider isn’t the sort of character who gets involved with the Avengers often. The Spirit of Vengeance is typically off fighting his own battles, leaving the traditional superheroes alone. What’s more, a mere cameo robs Gosling of a chance to really put his stamp on the character.

Another issue is Gosling’s age. He’s 45, meaning he’s two years older than Nicolas Cage was when he was deemed too old to be Ghost Rider back in 2007. While Ryan Gosling is aging gracefully, it limits how long he can play the character. The MCU tends to keep people around for years, and the clock is ticking.

Source: The Happy, Sad, Confused podcast