Actor Ryan Gosling will join the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as the title character in a new Ghost Rider film, the company announced.

Speaking during the surprise announcement at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, Gosling said it’s a character he’s “been wanting to play for a long time.”

The film will be released in 2028 and will be the third about the motorcycle-riding antihero.

It will follow the 2007 film of the same name starring Nicolas Cage, and its sequel, 2011’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.

Before making the big reveal on stage at San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said he had often been asked when Gosling would join the MCU.

Shortly after the lights went out. When they returned, the actor appeared on stage to applause from screaming fans.

Speaking about the role, Gosling said: “Wow, is this really happening?”

He had previously spoken of his desire to take on the role. Appearing on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast in March, he confirmed that he was in talks with Marvel.

Ghost Rider is the anti-hero identity of motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze.

The character’s story begins when he becomes linked to the Spirit of Vengeance Zarathos after making a deal with the villain Mephisto to forgive his surrogate father, giving him superpowers.

The film will be directed by Shawn Levy, whom Gosling described as the project’s “only” director.

Levy previously directed Deadpool & Wolverine in the MCU and is currently working with Gosling on Star Wars: Starfighter, due out next year.

Levy told the crowd that he and Gosling spent much of their free time on set daydreaming about Ghost Rider and exchanging ideas.

The director said, “When Ryan started talking about his vision for this character, we started riffing and I finally said, ‘bro, let’s ride,’ so guys, see you in 2028.”