It's official: Marvel Studios has delayed both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. The news came from a Deadline report, which revealed that the films - which were both initially set for release in May 2026 and May 2027 - had both been moved to December in their respective release years. That means that, after The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in movie theaters this July, fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will have to wait for a whole year before we get another cinematic showdown from the franchise in Spider-Man: Brand New Day next summer.
To say it's a bummer is an understatement, as fans were eagerly anticipating the two blockbuster films - the first of which has just started filming in the UK. That said, the silver lining is that the delay will likely give the studio the chance to perfect both movies, ensuring that the larger-than-life extravaganzas have all the surprises, cameos, and consistent storytelling we've come to expect from these major MCU movies.
The good news is that the films will reportedly bring in one major Marvel character we've been waiting years to see.
Marvel Studios reportedly casting Ghost Rider for Avengers: Doomsday
According to industry insider Jeff Sneider (via The Hot Mic Podcast with John Rocca), Marvel is casting a new Ghost Rider for Avengers: Doomsday. He also said that it would be a version of the character who could return in future installments throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe and not just a phonecall to Nicolas Cage (who previously portrayed the character in the Ghost Rider movies) for a cameo appearance, adding that "this is a search" (for a new actor).
Now, it's worth noting that Ghost Rider's name has crept up in multiple Avengers: Doomsday conversations over the course of the past year, as a multitude of rumors and reports claimed that some variation of the character might appear in the upcoming movie. The most recent claimed that it would be Cage's version in a cameo appearance, but it sounds like this would be a completely separate version of the character (and wouldn't necessarily rule a Cage cameo out either).
Ghost Rider is arguably the most famous Marvel character to have not yet made an MCU appearance, but he has been vaguely attached to the franchise for some time. Back when the original wave of Marvel Television shows that aired on ABC were considered canon to the MCU, the Robbie Reyes version of the Spirit of Vengeance appeared in Marvel's Agents of SHIELD in which he was portrayed by Gabriel Luna. The character was supposed to headline his own spinoff, but those plans were ultimately nixed.
Regardless of whether that show is considered canon or not, it's widely believed that the Johnny Blaze version of Ghost Rider will eventually make his way to the MCU to inevitably star in a Midnight Sons project. One of the subplots of Marvel's Multiverse Saga has seen an uptick in supernatural entities within the franchise, particularly in Disney Plus series Moon Knight and Special Presentation Werewolf by Night. Rumors suggest that these are slowly paving the way towards that Midnight Sons movie, which would have Ghost Rider cross paths with the likes of Moon Knight.
As for who could play the motorcycle-riding, fiery skull badass, the fan-favorite choice is Ryan Gosling. The Barbie and The Fall Guy star previously shared his love for the character, revealing that if he were to join the world of the MCU, then he would love to do so as Ghost Rider. Kevin Fiege was receptive to the idea, telling the world that he would love to have Gosling play a role in the franchise. The only question is if they can make the magic happen and have him play the Spirit of Vengeance.
As always, it's worth taking any and all Marvel rumors with a pinch of salt (especially ahead of an Avengers movie), but the Ghost Rider rumors have been recurring for so long that it feels like Avengers: Doomsday would be the perfect opportunity to pull that thread. We've been waiting to see the character make his MCU debut and, with the studio likely to continue working on its supernatural arrivals after the Multiverse Saga concludes, this could be the movie that changes everything, allowing Johnny Blaze to speed his way onto screens ahead of that inevitable Midnight Sons project.