Actor Connor Storrie is in discussions to star as the primary antagonist opposite Ryan Gosling in Marvel Studios’ upcoming feature “Ghost Rider,” The Hollywood Reporter first reported.
The project reteams Gosling with director Shawn Levy and screenwriter Jonathan Tropper, who previously collaborated on “Star Wars: Starfighter.” Marvel Studios announced the high-profile comic book adaptation in July during its Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, scheduling the film for theatrical release on July 28, 2028.
A Rapid Ascent to Stardom
For Storrie, 26, the potential Marvel casting marks the latest milestone in an unusually swift Hollywood ascent. A native of Texas, Storrie was waiting tables at the Laurel Grill in Culver City, California, before landing the role of Russian hockey player Ilya Rozanov in the television series “Heated Rivalry.” The romantic sports drama, adapted from the “Game Changers” book series by Rachel Reid, debuted in November 2025 on Crave and HBO Max.
Following the show’s reception, Storrie earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his guest-hosting turn on “Saturday Night Live.” He previously had a minor part in “Joker: Folie à Deux” and has several upcoming feature films, including Sarah Polley’s adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s “The Bell Jar” alongside Billie Eilish, Craig Zobel’s thriller “Turpentine” with Melissa McCarthy, Halina Reijn’s “Please,” and Molly Gordon’s “Peaked.” Storrie also wrote and directed an independent project titled “Transaction Planet.”
Storrie is currently in production on the second season of “Heated Rivalry,” which is scheduled to premiere next spring.
Ghost Rider Returns to the Big Screen
The comic character Ghost Rider was created by Gary Friedrich, Roy Thomas and Mike Ploog, debuting in “Marvel Spotlight” in 1972. The original protagonist, motorcycle stunt driver Johnny Blaze, sells his soul to a demon to save his adoptive father’s life, transforming into a flaming, leather-clad vigilante bonded with the Spirit of Vengeance.
Nicolas Cage previously portrayed Blaze in Sony’s 2007 film “Ghost Rider” and its 2011 sequel, “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.” Later, Gabriel Luna portrayed the Robbie Reyes incarnation of the character in the ABC television series “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
Gosling expressed his long-standing enthusiasm for the antihero during the San Diego Comic-Con announcement in July. Marvel Studios has not officially confirmed whether Gosling will play Blaze or another iteration of the character.
“As you know, this is a character I’ve wanted to play for a very long time,” Gosling told the Comic-Con audience.
Production Plans and Unanswered Questions
Specific details about Storrie’s potential role remain closely held. Ghost Rider has battled numerous supernatural adversaries in comic lore, including Mephisto, Blackheart, Zarathos, and Nightmare. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Mephisto was recently portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen in the Disney+ series “Ironheart.”
Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige is producing “Ghost Rider” alongside Louis D’Esposito, Stephen Broussard, Levy and Gosling, with Richie Palmer and Jessie Henderson serving as executive producers. Linus Sandgren has joined the production as director of photography, and the production plans to shoot on film when cameras roll in New York next year.
Representatives for Marvel Studios declined to comment on the casting talks. Deals for Storrie’s role have not yet been finalized, and it remains unclear when Marvel will make a formal casting announcement.
