With the recent announcement of Ryan Gosling‘s Ghost Rider movie, it looks like a long-awaited MCU crossover could finally happen. Before Gosling’s introduction during the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con, rumors about Marvel Studios developing a Midnight Sons movie had been circulating online. I’m now convinced that the Ghost Rider film could be the first step in the studio’s potential plan for the dream crossover project.
Ghost Rider will be led by Gosling, who has been a long-time favorite for the role. The movie will reunite the Academy Award nominee with Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy following their collaboration on Lucasfilm’s upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter. The Barbie star was actually the one who pitched his vision for the character to Levy. The script is being penned by Levy’s long-time collaborator Jonathan Tropper, who also wrote The Adam Project and Star Wars: Starfighter. The new MCU film is currently slated to arrive in theaters sometime in 2028.
What does the Ghost Rider movie mean for the MCU’s long-rumored Midnight Sons project?
I believe that Marvel Studios will use Gosling’s Ghost Rider movie to build up its potential Midnight Sons project. This has been a dream crossover for Marvel fans who have been waiting to see the anti-hero team in live-action. Looking back at previous rumors surrounding the MCU’s Midnight Sons project, Ghost Rider’s introduction does make sense if the studio is planning to make the Spirit of Vengeance the team’s de facto leader. Gosling’s previous experiences leading blockbuster films ensures that he has what it takes to become the anchor of the MCU’s possible new franchise.
If Ghost Rider’s 2028 debut is successful, greenlighting the Midnight Sons project is likely one of the studio’s next major steps. Gosling’s movie will also help the studio to establish the supernatural side of the MCU. This might pave the way for a more seamless integration of characters like Blade, Moon Knight, Werewolf by Night, and more into the wider MCU. As of right now, the studio has yet to explain how these characters connect to the franchise’s main timeline.
