The Marvel Cinematic Universe is known for fulfilling outlandish fan demands. From bringing back Hugh Jackman’s deceased Wolverine to heralding the return of both previous Spider-Man films, the MCU has always tried to incorporate the nostalgia of previous Marvel films in some capacity. It is in this regard that Nicholas Cage’s Ghost Rider is top of the list when it comes to fan favourite Marvel characters who have not yet returned to the MCU. So, Is Nicolas Cage Rejoining The MCU As Ghost Rider?
Before Marvel/Disney got back the rights to Ghost Rider, Sony actually succeeded in developing two Ghost Rider films. Nicholas Cage was tapped to play Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider in both of these flicks; 2007’s Ghost Rider and 2012’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. While the critical reception and box office performance of the films are debatable at best, Cage’s zany and energetic take on the Rider has unwittingly become part of the cultural zeitgeist.
When Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance outright bombed in 2012, Sony put a pause on further Ghost Rider media and let the rights revert back to Marvel. Marvel, considering the sheer popularity that Cage’s Johnny Blaze enjoyed amongst the masses, decided to do something different. Desperate to introduce a Ghost Rider and yet unable to secure Cage, Marvel settled on incorporating the Robbie Reyes version of Ghost Rider in the fourth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., an ABC-produced show loosely connected to the MCU.
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Gabriel Luna was cast as Robbie Reyes, and with a multi-episode arc, Luna won over the fans through his tragic portrayal of the character. However, the exact place of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. within the greater MCU put Luna’s future at risk. While some characters from the MCU, such as Nick Fury and Maria Hill, have appeared in this series, the Marvel top brass has never really accepted that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a proper part of the sprawling universe.
In a sly nod to the previous Cage portrayal, Johnny Blaze also appears in the series to give Reyes his signature powers (although played by a stuntman and in his demon form). When the Robbie Reyes Ghost Rider series was cancelled by Hulu soon after, everyone assumed that Luna’s turn as the Ghost Rider was pretty much over.
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Is Nicolas Cage Rejoining The MCU As Ghost Rider?
However, a new, exciting opportunity soon presented itself. Ryan Reynolds, for his Deadpool and Wolverine films, set about collecting as many previous Marvel characters as possible. Successfully bringing back Johnny Storm, Sabretooth, and Pyro, fans of Johnny Blaze thought he could be next as well.
Considering the fact that Reynolds was also able to get Wesley Snipes as Blade for the film, it should be said that anything is possible when it comes to former Marvel stars making a comeback in the MCU. Snipes played Blade for three films, and it is well known that he was notoriously hard to work with, which makes his return even more surprising. In addition, Ryan was also able to herald the return of Jennifer Garner’s Electra for the film, which was equally as unlikely.
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Several months after the film’s release, fans would be heartbroken to know that one of the characters cut from the 2024 film "Deadpool & Wolverine" was indeed Ghost Rider. There was a consideration for Nicolas Cage to reprise his role as Ghost Rider, but ultimately it all fell through for unknown reasons. Ryan Reynolds also confirmed that talks occurred about bringing back Cage for a cameo, but the idea was ultimately scrapped.
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Is Nicolas Cage Rejoining The MCU As Ghost Rider?
It is also public knowledge that Cage is crazy enough to do it. His recent filmography has him trying possibly everything an actor can do, so a return to Ghost Rider would be a walk in the park for him. However, considering what happened to him on The Flash (2023), Cage would be right to have more than a few reservations.
Warner Bros digitally pasted his face on a Superman variant that was part of a cancelled film, and what followed was the revelation that Cage actually shot a heartfelt scene in the suit, but the studio, for some reason, de-aged him into fighting a giant spider. So naturally, Cage would want to do something organic when and if he returns as Ghost Rider.
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However, when it comes to Marvel, it pays to believe that we must never say never. With so many improbable returns of previous beloved characters now a reality, there is a good enough chance that Nicholas Cage might indeed appear as the Ghost Rider sometime in the future.
Whether it would be a wink and a nod cameo or something multiversal (maybe Marvel is saving him for Secret Wars?), we do not know. Perhaps, a version of him might appear in the long-rumoured Midnight Sons film or a future season of Daredevil and Punisher.
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Is Nicolas Cage Rejoining The MCU As Ghost Rider?
All we can say is that when the stars align and they will, we can all expect to see a Ghost Rider in the MCU again. Let us know your thoughts below about the possibility of Cage coming back as Ghost Rider in the future.
