- Primary Subject: Shawn Levy choosing Marvel Studios' Ghost Rider over Tom Cruise's Days of Thunder 2
- Key Update: Director Shawn Levy reportedly turned down Tom Cruise's "aggressive courting" to direct Days of Thunder 2, opting instead to helm Marvel Studios' upcoming Ghost Rider reboot starring Ryan Gosling.
- Status: Reported
- Last Verified: September 30, 2026
- Quick Answer: Director Shawn Levy officially passed on directing Tom Cruise in a Days of Thunder sequel to focus on Marvel Studios' Ghost Rider starring Ryan Gosling.
With Shawn Levy now one of Hollywood's most sought-after filmmakers, he knows his place in the industry, which makes his latest major decision even more shocking.
Instead of signing on for a legacy sequel with one of cinema's biggest action stars, Levy reportedly chose to steer Marvel Studios' supernatural corner instead. Here is what went down behind closed doors.
Shawn Levy Reportedly Chose the MCU Over Tom Cruise's Next Project Despite "Aggressive Courting"
According to Puck News' Matthew Belloni, the Mission: Impossible franchise star Tom Cruise went heavy on charming to recruit Shawn Levy to helm Days of Thunder 2, a long-gestating sequel to his classic 1990 NASCAR action-drama.
Cruise even made a surprise visit to Levy and Ryan Gosling's Star Wars: Starfighter set to pitch the project in person. Despite the pitch to helm the legacy sequel, Levy declined and chose to helm the MCU reboot.
Levy solidified his blockbuster magic when Deadpool & Wolverine smashed records as the highest-grossing R-rated film in cinematic history, earning over $1.33 billion globally.
Add to that his background on franchise hits like Free Guy, The Adam Project, and Stranger Things, and Levy has more than established himself as one of the most commercially potent hitmakers in today's Hollywood.
The Ghost Rider reboot is essentially Levy and Gosling's second major blockbuster project together.
After the massive success of Deadpool & Wolverine, Levy's standing at Disney and Marvel Studios is at an all-time high. The decision allowed Levy to keep his momentum going within the MCU while securing a five-year overall TV deal with 20th Television, centering his long-term directorial home at Disney.
What Fans Can Expect From the MCU's Ghost Rider Reboot with Ryan Gosling
Meanwhile, the upcoming Ghost Rider reboot marks the character's official welcome into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
With Ryan Gosling set to headline the project, the film is expected to blend the supernatural with darker horror elements that Levy previously honed while working on the set of Stranger Things.
Written by Jonathan Tropper (The Adam Project, Warrior, Banshee), the script is expected to deliver a fresh, hard-hitting take on the iconic antihero.
While Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige remains tight-lipped on whether Gosling is portraying the classic stunt driver Johnny Blaze or another incarnation like Danny Ketch, the project promises heavy yet practical stunts and cutting-edge visual effects.
Star Wars: Starfighter is slated to come out in theaters on May 28, 2027, while the MCU Ghost Rider reboot is expected on July 28, 2028. Stay tuned!
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