Ryan Gosling’s MCU move fuels Ghost Rider buzz — is Eva Mendes back in?
CDCC 2026 just delivered its biggest twist.
On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, host Josh Horowitz reminded Ryan Gosling that his wife, Eva Mendes, already rode through this world once. Gosling just laughed:
“I’m just happy one of us got to do it. ”
The offhand joke lit up fan speculation about whether Mendes might pop back up now that Gosling is officially the MCU ’s new Ghost Rider.
As of now, there’s nothing to that chatter. There’s been no announcement, report, or even a hint that Mendes will reprise Roxanne Simpson, the character she played opposite Nicolas Cage in the 2007 Ghost Rider movie.
What Marvel confirmed
- Ryan Gosling — officially unveiled as the MCU’s Ghost Rider during Marvel Studios ’ Hall H presentation at San Diego Comic-Con.
- Shawn Levy — set to direct a standalone Ghost Rider film for Marvel Studios.
- Release — the movie is slated for a theatrical bow in 2028.
Gosling kept it simple but clear when he took the Hall H stage.
“Ghost Rider is a character I’ve wanted to play for a long time.”
The casting capped years of fan-casting and sent viewers back to the earlier films, which is why Mendes’ name is suddenly everywhere again. For now, her connection remains that 2007 turn as Johnny Blaze’s longtime love interest — while Marvel moves ahead on a fresh take with Gosling, Levy, and a planned 2028 release in theaters.