Ghost Rider writer says Ryan Gosling's Marvel movie should go full horror
A Ghost Rider writer has a bold pitch for Ryan Gosling’s take that would push Marvel into murkier territory — and it’s likely to split fans.
Marvel's reboot of Ghost Rider has been knocking about the rumour mill for a while, particularly now that Ryan Gosling is said to be attached and Shawn Levy (of Deadpool 3 and Stranger Things fame) is directing. But here's where things get interesting: comic writer Benjamin Percy, who's actually shepherded the Ghost Rider story in Marvel comics not too long ago, reckons Marvel really needs to go all-in on horror for this one, and not just churn out another bog-standard hero flick with flaming skulls and snappy quips.
Ghost Rider is expected to hit cinemas on 28 July 2028—the furthest-out Marvel date currently on the books.
Percy made his pitch in a chat with ComicBook.com, and compared to your usual Marvel sugar-coating, he doesn't exactly pull his punches. According to him, Ghost Rider is already halfway to being a horror icon: just swap spandex for molten chains and proper body horror, and you've got something much gnarlier than anything in the Marvel Studios arsenal right now.
Body Horror and Hellfire
Here's how Percy put it during the interview—he's written Johnny Blaze for Marvel, by the way, so he's not just having a punt from the sidelines:
Let me say that as a horror head, this is my time, right? I'm in my zone right now. And I'm sure whatever Marvel conjures up is going to be great, but I would lean towards the R-rated horror version of the character and not do the standard cape and spandex, MCU type, which can be very effective if you're doing a Doomsday storyline, or an X-Men storyline.
He followed up with a more direct appeal for what he wants to see on screen: think Johnny Blaze yanking white-hot chains out of his mouth 'Hellraiser style', his own face peeling off in flames, and as much grotesque transformation as studios (and censors) can stomach. Basically, Percy wants this thing to be properly scary. Ghost Rider isn't exactly Iron Man with a goth phase – the man's literally possessed.
It isn't just about making things more violent for the sake of it. Percy argued Ghost Rider is the perfect vessel for bringing proper, grown-up horror into Marvel's world—rather than just sprinkling a bit of darkness into the usual super-larkiness.
Percy's Resume and the MCU's Next Weird Turn
Percy isn't a random fan shouting into the Marvel void—his comics run on Ghost Rider (2022–23) featured Johnny Blaze tangled up with a parade of American nightmares, and he's even turned Wolverine into something called Hellverine by gluing a demon to him. In a genre that tends to prize the spectacular over the downright grim, Percy clearly wants the new Ghost Rider to tip the balance back the other way. When asked whether Marvel should have a proper horror division, his answer was blunt: 'We live in a golden age of horror. It's time.'
- Ryan Gosling (yes, the Barbie bloke) is attached to star as Ghost Rider's Johnny Blaze
- Shawn Levy is on to direct
- Target release date: 28 July 2028
- No official word yet on whether Marvel is actually going for an R rating
The project's still early doors, so Marvel hasn't confirmed what direction they're taking. But with Percy publicly championing a much more intense, ghastly version—and with modern horror booming at the box office—it does make you wonder if the Mouse House is ready to hand Ghost Rider the keys to Hell, or if we'll end up with another episode of the flaming skull trying not to frighten Disney+ subscribers.