Ryan Gosling has reportedly been cast as Ghost Rider in a new Marvel Cinematic Universe film, directed by Shawn Levy, after having pursued the role for several years. The character’s blend of supernatural horror, motorbike stunts and comic-book spectacle could give Gosling a distinctive entry point into Marvel, while also posing a challenge because Ghost Rider’s premise is unusually elaborate and the earlier films were poorly received.

Ghost Rider began as stunt rider Johnny Blaze, who sells his soul to Satan to save his adoptive father, then becomes bound to the demon Zarathos and gains fiery supernatural powers. Gosling is said to have approached Marvel president Kevin Feige with his own character concept based on particular comic runs; Nicolas Cage previously played Blaze in 2007’s Ghost Rider and its 2011 sequel Spirit of Vengeance.