Connor Storrie Ghost Rider villain talks set up Ryan Gosling duel
The Emmy-nominated breakout is circling his biggest feature role to date as Marvel Studios prepares a 2028 theatrical release.
Actor Connor Storrie is in talks to star as the villain opposite Ryan Gosling in Marvel Studios’ upcoming “Ghost Rider” feature film, first reported Tuesday by The Hollywood Reporter and subsequently confirmed by Variety and Deadline.
Shawn Levy is attached to direct the project from a screenplay written by Jonathan Tropper. The film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 28, 2028, with principal photography planned to begin in 2027. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Stephen Broussard, Levy and Gosling are producing, with Richie Palmer and Jessie Henderson serving as executive producers. Marvel Studios declined to comment on the casting negotiations, adhering to its policy of not addressing casting reports.
A fast rise for the star
The potential role marks a swift leap into major studio blockbusters for Storrie. The actor had his television breakout as hockey player Ilya Rozanov in the Canadian sports drama series “Heated Rivalry”, which debuted its first season in 2025 and is scheduled to return for season 2 in 2027.
Storrie also played a young Arkham Asylum inmate in the 2024 film “Joker: Folie à Deux” and hosted an episode of “Saturday Night Live” during season 51 in 2026, a performance that earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Reporting outlets and fan communities on Reddit noted on Tuesday that taking on a Marvel antagonist would represent the biggest role of his career so far.
What is known about Marvel’s Ghost Rider
Ryan Gosling was officially announced to star in “Ghost Rider” during Marvel Studios’ Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2026. Describing Gosling’s involvement, Feige told ComicBook.com: “He is a huge fan of the comics; he did come to us particularly with a specific vision, based on some particular comics, but I’ll let him unveil that as he wants to.”
The project reunites Gosling with Levy, who previously directed the actor in “Star Wars: Starfighter”. Levy also directed Marvel Studios’ 2024 release “Deadpool & Wolverine”. Recalling that comic convention experience, Levy told Variety: “I’m having the greatest flashback vibes here, because I was here two years ago when we showed ‘Deadpool & Wolverine.’ I’ll never forget that night, because I was introduced to the greatest fans”
What remains unconfirmed
Marvel Studios has not revealed which antagonist Storrie is in talks to portray. Speculation among comic fans has circulated around names such as Blackheart, Zarathos and Nightmare, though no character has been officially attached to the role. The studio has also not formally confirmed whether Gosling’s version of the character is explicitly Johnny Blaze.
Negotiations remain ongoing, and neither Marvel nor Storrie’s representatives have confirmed whether the talks have finalized into a signed agreement. Further casting decisions and an exact start date for 2027 filming have not yet been announced.
