Having won viewers' hearts as Russian hockey wunderkind Ilya Rozanov in Crave's massively popular queer romance series Heated Rivalry, Connor Storrie has already proven he can handle himself when things get hot and heavy. But, if THR's reporting proves accurate, it looks like the rising star is heading for a heated rivalry of a very different kind with his next major project. According to the trade, Storrie is in talks to play the lead villain in Shawn Levy's upcoming MCU movie Ghost Rider, teeing up a tantalising face-off with Ryan Gosling's flame-headed Johnny Blaze.
Reuniting director Shawn Levy with his Star Wars: Starfighter leading man Gosling and that movie's writer, Jonathan Tropper (The Adam Project), Ghost Rider — a movie and a role Gosling has been chasing for years — is set to see motorcycle-stuntman-turned-Spirit of Vengeance Johnny Blaze make his long-awaited Marvel Cinematic Universe debut. And while we have no inkling at this stage who from Marvel Comics' baddie canon Connor Storrie may be playing here (Deathwatch, anyone? Centurious? Blackheart, perhaps?), we do now know who'll be shooting his and Gosling's MCU debuts. Yes, nestled within THR's reporting is confirmation that Dune: Part Three DP Linus Sandgren is going to be behind the camera as cinematographer here. Plus, what's more, he's going to be shooting on film. Cinephiles, rejoice!
With production due to get underway in New York next year ahead of a planned July 28, 2028 cinema release, it's heartening to see that the motors are already running on this one — and that, as with Jake Schreier's upcoming X-Men and Ryan Coogler's Black Panther III, Marvel Studios' top brass are continuing to look to emerging talents to spearhead the MCU's post-Multiverse Saga future. Expect more updates on Ghost Rider as Blaze's trails heats up in the coming weeks and months... watch this space!