Heated Rivalry’s Connor Storrie is in talks to play the villain in Ryan Gosling’s Ghost Rider
Marvel Studios has its next Ghost Rider big bad in sight opposite Ryan Gosling — and if you watch buzzy TV, you’ll know the face circling the role.
Well, Marvel Studios is sticking to its habit of nicking the buzziest new talent for its next big thing. The Ryan Gosling-led Ghost Rider film has apparently found its main villain, and the actor in question is about as hot as you get on telly right now—though, as ever, Marvel's keeping the character under wraps for now.
Ghost Rider is set for release on 28 July 2028.
Who's suiting up as the baddie?
Connor Storrie—yes, the lad who plays flashy Russian ice hockey star Ilya Romanov in Heated Rivalry—is reportedly in talks for the main villain role opposite Gosling. If you've not been keeping up, Heated Rivalry landed last November and was so popular Crave and HBO Max immediately ordered a second series (currently shooting, by the way). Storrie's had a mad year: projects with the likes of Melissa McCarthy, a film for A24 called Please, Peaked, plus The Bell Jar for Focus Features. Oh, and he nabbed an Emmy nomination for guest-hosting Saturday Night Live—quite the flex.
Now, bagging a part as the main antagonist in a Marvel tentpole? That's leapfrogging onto the A-list, if you ask me.
The movie: who, what, when
Shawn Levy is in the director's chair (he and Gosling recently teamed up on that Star Wars: Starfighter project), with the script by Jonathan Tropper. Both Levy and Gosling are producing, as is Kevin Feige—so, all the usual Marvel bigwigs present and accounted for.
- Filming: kicks off in New York in 2027
- US release: 28 July 2028
If you're confused about which version of Ghost Rider Gosling will be playing—Marvel's saying nothing. The original Johnny Blaze was a 1972 creation involving Gary Friedrich, Mike Ploog, and Roy Thomas. The whole setup: daredevil biker sells his soul to a literal demon, becomes a flaming-skulled avenger (no subtlety, but that's the fun bit). The role's been done before—Nicolas Cage had a pop at it in two films (2007 and 2011). Where this new one sits in the lore? Anyone's guess until Marvel feels like spilling the beans.
The actual news dropped, somewhat unexpectedly, at this summer's San Diego Comic-Con. And if you thought Ryan Gosling was a left-field pick for Ghost Rider, well, think again—he's been gunning for it for ages. He even told the SDCC crowd himself:
As you know, this is a character I've wanted to play for a very long time.
No official comment from Marvel yet on exactly which devil Storrie will be playing (literally or otherwise), but with cameras rolling next year and the supernatural side of the MCU expanding, expect more info to leak well before the engines start revving.