Ryan Gosling’s Ghost Rider May Have Found Its Devilishly Charming Antagonist in Connor Storrie

Hell hath no fury like a Marvel casting rumor, and this one is arriving on a flaming motorcycle.

Connor Storrie is reportedly in talks to join Marvel Studios’ upcoming Ghost Rider opposite Ryan Gosling, according to Deadline. Sources confirmed the news to the outlet, though Marvel has declined to comment. For now, this remains firmly in rumor territory, so keep your hellfire in check.

Storrie has been on a serious upward trajectory, and pairing him with Gosling would put him in front of a massive audience. A villain role would give him plenty of room to be menacing, magnetic, or both. Marvel has a long history of making its antagonists the most interesting people in the room, and fans will be hoping for the same here.

So, who would Storrie be playing?

That’s the million-dollar question. There’s no official word on the role, though Storrie is reportedly set to play the film’s villain. Fan speculation has already narrowed in on a few names from the Ghost Rider comics: Danny Ketch, Blackheart, or Daimon Hellstrom.

Hellstrom is the one getting the most side-eye (and heart-eyes) from fans. Introduced in Ghost Riderissue #1 in 1973, Daimon is the half-demon son of Mephisto, a character deeply tangled up in the Ghost Rider mythos. He’s also canonically bisexual in Marvel Comics, which means that if Marvel goes this route, there’s a real chance of meaningful representation in a franchise that has not always been generous with it. Of course, that’s a big “if” stacked on a bigger “reportedly.”

What we know about Ghost Rider so far

Marvel dropped the Ghost Rider bombshell at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, with production slated for 2027 and a release date of July 28, 2028. The film reunites Gosling with Star Wars: Starfighter director Shawn Levy and that film’s writer, Jonathan Tropper. That’s a lot of galaxy-hopping for one creative trio, but if the chemistry holds, it could be a fun partnership to watch.

Gosling is expected to take on the role of Johnny Blaze, the stunt motorcyclist who, in the comics, makes a deal with the demon Mephisto to save his adoptive father and becomes bound to the Spirit of Vengeance. The character was created by writer Gary Friedrich, artist Mike Ploog, and Roy Thomas, who succeeded Stan Lee as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Marvel Spotlight issue #5 back in 1972.

Of course, Ghost Rider is no stranger to the big screen. Nicolas Cage famously brought the character to life in 2007’s Ghost Rider and again in 2011’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. Those films have developed a certain cult following over the years, and Cage’s gloriously unhinged energy set a high bar for anyone planning to set their skull ablaze.

Hold onto your helmets

Until Marvel says something official, all of this is a very hot rumor. Casting reports can shift quickly, roles can change, and deals can fall apart. But with a 2028 release date on the calendar and cameras expected to roll next year, we likely won’t be waiting long for more details.

For now, we’ll be here, tracking every update and manifesting a very well-dressed son of Mephisto. Things are about to get hot.

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