See Ryan Gosling Take Over For Nicolas Cage As Ghost Rider
Ryan Gosling is Johnny Blaze in this fan deepfake video based on 2007's Ghost Rider.
Ryan Gosling is Johnny Blaze in this fan-made deepfake video that replaces Nicolas Cage in the 2007 Ghost Rider film via image and voice AI. The video was made by a YouTube user with the handle of stryder HD, who specializes in deepfake Marvel Studios videos like this one that replaces Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark with Tom Cruise and a fan concept for the abandoned Henry Cavill Man of Steel 2 featuring Dwayne Johnson. While the video is only a brief look at Ryan Gosling in Ghost Rider’s human form, it is interesting to see the star in his most-desired role.
In the short deepfake video, Ryan Gosling as Johnny Blaze is being interviewed by Roxanne Simpson, a reporter played by Gosling’s real-life partner Eva Mendes. After some exceedingly awkward banter (in which it is revealed that the two have a previous romantic history, in case you have forgotten the plot of Ghost Rider), Johnny Blaze’s assistant Mack (Donal Logue) pops in to throw a little banter around.
Like many deepfake videos, it is startling how realistic Ryan Gosling’s image looks melded into the role originated by Nicolas Cage (and reprised in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in 2012). While it is difficult to ignore Cage’s very 2007 Caesar-style haircut, Ryan Gosling looks remarkably natural as the daredevil motorcyclist. Part of that has to do with both actors often having an odd, halting acting style, which makes Gosling a natural to take over for Cage.
There have been a lot of rumors floating around that Ryan Gosling will be entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe in some capacity, though it is unknown what part he might be up for. Gosling has denied reports that he has been cast as Marvel’s Nova (aka Richard Rider), a cosmically-empowered space cop who could be introduced in one of the upcoming Phases of the MCU.
However, while Ryan Gosling has denied that he will be playing Nova for Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, he has also expressed a deep desire to play the Spirit of Vengeance. Since Nicolas Cage portrayed Johnny Blaze, the character appeared (in the Robbie Reyes variant) in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., now played by Gabriel Luna. Since then, there has not been hide nor hair nor flaming skull of Ghost Rider, so it’s anyone’s guess whether Ryan Gosling will get his wish.
We have previously reported that Nicolas Cage is in talks with Marvel Studios to reprise Johnny Blaze for the massive upcoming crossover event Avengers: Secret Wars. If Ryan Gosling does get a chance to play Ghost Rider, the Multiversal nature of the event certainly does not preclude there being two Spirits of Vengeance there at once. And given that Marvel Studios seems to be interested in bringing everyone from Ian McKellen’s Magneto to Wesley Snipes’ Blade to Kirsten Dunst‘s Mary-Jane Watson back for Secret Wars, it seems actually very possible. Just check out that video again to see what we might be looking at with Ryan Gosling’s Johnny Blaze.
