From deep space to a flaming motorcycle, his wishlist just took a sharp turn. Is Ryan Gosling about to crash a very guarded universe, or is this heat all smoke?

As he readies Project Hail Mary, the 2026 sci-fi epic from Phil Lord and Christopher Miller with a Drew Goddard script, Ryan Gosling is eyeing a new kind of ignition inside the MCU. The adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel is already basking in a 97 percent Rotten Tomatoes score, but Gosling is talking about trading a starship for a flaming bike. On the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he floated Ghost Rider as his dream role. Kevin Feige has signaled interest, raising fresh questions about timing, fit, and how far Marvel might go to land him.

A new sci-fi epic with Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling’s career may be taking a cosmic turn. After a run of genre-hopping roles, he now fronts 2026’s most-anticipated sci-fi spectacle, The Project Hail Mary. Early reactions are already strong, hinting at both box-office bite and awards chatter. It’s the kind of high-wire bet that can reset an actor’s trajectory, and Gosling looks all-in.

Why ‘The Project Hail Mary’ is creating a buzz

Landing in theaters on 3/18/2026, The Project Hail Mary unites directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller with screenwriter Drew Goddard. The adaptation of Andy Weir’s bestseller tracks a solitary astronaut racing 12 light-years from home to stave off a stellar crisis (and Earth’s collapse).

Release date: 3/18/2026
Creative team: Phil Lord & Christopher Miller; screenplay by Drew Goddard
Early score: 97% on Rotten Tomatoes

According to early screenings, the film balances crunchy problem-solving with pulse-quick spectacle. Gosling carries the chamber-like intimacy of spaceflight with crisp restraint, then punctures it with bursts of tender heroism. That mix has critics priming it as a crowd-pleaser and a thinker, a rare twofer.

Lord and Miller tend to toggle heart and mischief with engineer-level precision. Here, their playful clarity reportedly meets Goddard’s structural snap, turning dense science into set-piece fuel. The result, say early viewers, is both brainy and propulsive.

Ryan Gosling sets his sights on Marvel

Even as that momentum builds, Gosling is already eyeing the next frontier. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, he reiterated interest in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, singling out Ghost Rider’s flaming mythology (and outsider streak). Marvel chief Kevin Feige has signaled openness to the idea, though formal talks remain unannounced. Could Ghost Rider be his next ignition point?

What Marvel means for Gosling

Here’s what that move could unlock for him. Gosling’s blend of cool detachment and coiled intensity could sharpen the MCU’s current lineup, especially around morally bent figures. The role carries history—Nicolas Cage and Gabriel Luna have worn the skull—yet Feige’s stance keeps the door cracked open. Whether or not the match happens, his post–Project Hail Mary arc feels purpose-built for big swings.

Scheduling and continuity could complicate Ghost Rider’s return, from effects demands to MCU timeline knots. Still, the character’s biker-on-the-brink ethos aligns neatly with Gosling’s laconic flair. If the stars align, he could scorch a fresh path through superhero fatigue.