News just in folks, Ryan Gosling is officially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The high-profile star of La La Land, Barbie and this year’s Project Hail Mary will take on the titular role of the motorcycle-riding anti-hero Ghost Rider in a new Ghost Rider film that is scheduled for release in 2028.

Gosling’s casting was confirmed during a surprise announcement at San Diego Comic-Con, with the three-time Oscar-nominated actor revealing that he had “wanted to play the character for a very long time”.

For those unfamiliar with the comic-book, Ghost Rider is the anti-hero identity of motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze who becomes bound to the spirit of an arch-demon to save the life of his foster father.

The character was previously played by Nicolas Cage in two earlier films; Ghost Rider (2007), and it’s follow-up Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011) with both making decent money at the box-office despite middling reviews.

The new outing will be helmed by Shawn Levy (Free Guy, Deadpool & Wolverine) who recently worked with Gosling on the upcoming Star Wars spin-off Star Wars: Starfighter, which is due to be released in cinemas next year.