Ryan Gosling Ghost Rider Villain: Connor Storrie In Talks For…

Ryan Gosling Ghost Rider Villain: Connor Storrie In Talks For MCU Role

Connor Storrie in talks to play Ghost Rider villain opposite Ryan Gosling; filming set for 2027, release July 2028

By Reel to Reel3 hours ago2 min read

Current hype level86

Ryan Gosling is stepping into the flames — and not just for the role. The actor, who made headlines earlier this year when Marvel Studios unveiled him as the lead in a new Ghost Rider film during its San Diego Comic-Con presentation, is now closing in on his co-star. According to multiple reports from Variety, TheWrap, and Just Jared, 26-year-old Connor Storrie, best known for his breakout performance in HBO Max’s Heated Rivalry, is in advanced talks to play the villain opposite Gosling in the upcoming Marvel movie.

The project, directed by Shawn Levy, is moving quickly, with plans to begin filming in New York next year and a release date set for July 28, 2028. While Marvel Studios has not confirmed casting, sources close to the production say negotiations are progressing. Levy, who previously collaborated with Gosling on Star Wars: Starfighter, set for release in May 2027, will also produce alongside Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, and Stephen Broussard.

Executive producers include Richie Palmer and Jessie Henderson. The script is being written by Jonathan Tropper, known for Star Wars: Starfighter. Storrie’s involvement marks a major leap from his recent roles. He’s currently filming season two of Heated Rivalry, which premiered to strong ratings, averaging 10.6 million viewers in its first season.

The series, based on Rachel Reid’s Game Changers book series, follows two rival hockey players, Shane Hollander (played by Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Storrie), whose competitive edge slowly gives way to romance. Beyond that, Storrie is set to star in Sarah Polley’s adaptation of The Bell Jar for Focus Features, and has several other projects in development, including Peaked, Turpentine, Please, and his own indie film Transaction Planet, which he wrote and directed.

He also had a small role in Joker: Folie à Deux. The character of Ghost Rider, originally Johnny Blaze, has no single definitive villain in the comics, but Mephisto, who appeared briefly in the MCU’s Ironheart series played by Sacha Baron Cohen, remains a top contender. Blackheart, Zarathos, Lucifer, and Nightmare are all possible antagonists.

With Gosling officially announced and Storrie now in talks, the film’s momentum is building fast. The real question isn’t whether it’ll happen, it’s who exactly will be burning in the fire.