As audiences continue to throw out names to play the iconic character, Keanu Reeves has addressed the possibility of playing the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Empowered by the Spirit of Vengeance Zarathos, the Ghost Rider moniker has been ed down to a variety of characters, though is most often associated with Johnny Blaze.
Nicolas Cage memorably brought the Blaze incarnation of Ghost Rider to life with the 2007 film and its 2011 sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, which have garnered cult followings for his performance as the titular protagonist. Following his departure from the role and a scrapped sequel, Ghost Rider would make his way back to the screen with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which briefly featured the Blaze version of the character, but primarily focused on Gabriel Luna's Robbie Reyes, who was intended to get a solo show at Hulu before Marvel Television was folded in to Marvel Studios. While the ABC show was technically set within the MCU, Reyes' Ghost Rider held the capabilities to travel to alternate dimensions, leaving the door open for a new Ghost Rider to be in the franchise.
During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to discuss his comic book BRZRKR, Keanu Reeves opened up about which Marvel character he would want to bring to life. Though joking he is better suited for the role of the protagonist in his own comic, Reeves did share his interest in bringing Ghost Rider to life for the screen. See what Reeves said below:
10-year-old me would want to — I think he'd probably want to be Ghost Rider.
How Can Ghost Rider The MCU?
Audiences recently took to theorizing a Ghost Rider reveal was coming to the MCU in the near future with She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, with the marketing for episode 4 hinting at a character named Donny Blaze. The character, played by Entourage alum Rhys Coiro, was revealed to be a former Kamar Taj dropout who was using his magic improperly, resulting in demons being unleashed on the crowd at one of his shows, and agreeing to forgo practicing the Mystic Arts. Some also took to speculating that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would include the return of Cage's Ghost Rider, among the various other cameos featured in the dimension-hopping sequel, though he would ultimately not appear in the film.
Given the MCU is currently in its Multiverse Saga across Phases 4-6, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility for Luna's Robbie Reyes or Cage's Johnny Blaze return as the franchise's Ghost Rider. However, with Marvel Studios having been very eager to bring Reeves into the MCU, and the actor's ongoing interest in the comic book realm with the likes of the recently released DC League of Super-Pets and the in-development Constantine 2, one can also hold out hope for the John Wick star to get to try his hand at the role. In the meantime, audiences can revisit Cage's first Ghost Rider streaming on Fubo and the second on Starz.
Source: Jimmy Kimmel Live!
