One of the most popular antiheroes created by Marvel Comics is Ghost Rider, a supernaturally powered biker that preys on evil. With a fearsome appearance and ties to Hell itself, Ghost Rider is one of the darker characters to be featured in Marvel Comics. His enemies are more likely to be demons or their agents rather than aliens, androids, and wizards. This leads to grim story lines that the MCU has only recently begun to dip into.
While Ghost Rider has already been featured on screen, played by Nicolas Cage in 2007’s Ghost Rider and its sequel Spirit of Vengeance, as well as a version being presented in Agents of SHIELD played by Gabriel Luna, the character has yet to make a proper appearance in the MCU canon. There has been a lot of speculation as to when he will enter the MCU, as well as what actor will play the character – with well-known names like Keanu Reeves expressing interest. What is less speculated on is which Ghost Rider should come to the screen. Let’s take a look at the contenders and speculate on which leather-clad spirit of vengeance the MCU should bring to the screen.
The Three Riders
The All-New-All-Different Marvel Comics run brought in a new Ghost Rider in the form of Roberto “Robbie” Reyes. This rider, like Ketch, is empowered by a spirit rather than a demon, and unlike the other riders, he does not ride a motorcycle. Instead, Robbie drives a 1969 Dodge Charger muscle car. Reyes is revived after being gunned down during a street race in east LA. This incarnation of Ghost Rider appeared in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. with an adjusted origin that was connected to an unnamed Ghost Rider, presumed to be Johnny Blaze.
A major hallmark of the MCU heroes is how their stories each tie into one another. Ghost Rider would be no exception to this, and each of the different versions of the character has elements of their backgrounds that could tie into already established elements of the MCU.
Johnny Blaze received his powers from the demon, Mephisto. In the comics, Mephisto has been associated with characters like Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch, and Agatha Harkness. Actress Kathryn Hahn has even commented to Comicbook.com about the character potentially appearing in the upcoming Coven of Chaos. Should Mephisto make an appearance, Blaze could be tied into any story that features him, even having the potential to appear initially as an antagonist, which has the potential to be a lot of fun in theaters.
Ghost Rider is an identity that has been held prominently by three different characters in the comics. Rather than simply being cut-and-paste versions of a largely unchanged character, each one of the three Ghost Riders have their own distinct stories, traits, and even enemies.
The first Ghost Rider featured in 1973 is Johnny Blaze, a carnival stunt performer who sold his soul in an attempt to save his adoptive father, only to be bound to a spirit of vengeance by the demon, Mephisto. Blaze is cursed to transform into the fearsome Ghost Rider in the presence of evil, bringing retribution to the wicked and sending their souls to Hell. This version of Ghost Rider is the original, and the most widely recognized by comic book fans, and was previously portrayed by Cage before the MCU took off.
In the 90s, Blaze was succeeded by Danny Ketch. Ketch gained the powers of Ghost Rider when he and his sister were attacked by ninjas, and he happened upon a motorcycle containing a spirit of vengeance not unlike the one bound to Johnny Blaze. This Ghost Rider rode an updated motorcycle, and had a less antagonistic relationship with the spirit that empowered him, as it was not a demon but the spirit of a deceased ancestor. This version has not yet been featured onscreen.
Danny Ketch’s origin of being attacked by ninjas is also in line with the MCU, and could potentially be retooled to have connections to the Ten Rings criminal organization featured in Shang-Chi. This would allow the character to have connections to another member of the MCU with few other direct ties to the other heroes. This would also mark Ketch’s first true cinematic appearance, and bring a fresher version of the character than the previously explored Blaze and Reyes versions.
For Robbie Reyes, an inclusion in the MCU would be a great boon for fans of the TV series in which he previously appeared, and could even be used to officially incorporate elements of the show into the MCU. If his origin is revisited, the circumstances of his death and revival could tie into some of the more street-level threats featured in the MCU, and the younger Ghost Rider would be in a great position to continue the franchise.
The Best Choice
While all three versions of Ghost Rider are excellent choices to include in the MCU, there is really only one conclusion as to which would be the best choice. For the MCU, this is the first outing of the character, and there is a lot of background for a potential Ghost Rider film to set up. Because of this, it is more sensible to use the original version of the character than one that came in later in the narrative.
Johnny Blaze’s story is the one most closely tied to Mephisto, establishes the role of Ghost Rider, and would be the easiest to tie into existing Marvel properties. The first Ghost Rider is also the one in the best position to set the stage for a potential franchise within the MCU, with his rebellion against Mephisto and conflict with the demon’s forces being able to cross over in the way that Marvel is famous for.
A great idea for the remaining riders would be to bring them in alongside Blaze at a later time. This would allow the MCU to utilize their story potential in a way that meshes together and create a franchise that is ultimately much stronger than any one of the characters could accomplish on their own. Legacy characters like Ghost Rider have a long history of multiple versions of the character sharing a page, and when adapted to the screen there is amazing potential for this to work just as well, if not better.
