While the MCU is already jam-packed with heroes, it's still missing one big hitter in Agents of SHIELD season 4. While that launched with the intention of being integrated as part of the main MCU continuity, with the rise of the Disney+ sector, Agents of SHIELD and other shows from the former Marvel Television were relegated to an alternate canon. Thus, Ghost Rider is once again up for grabs.
Many would still love to see Luna return as the Spirit of Vengeance, yet there are other Ghost Riders worth incorporating. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law sparked theories that the stage magician Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Werewolf by Night their arrival seems imminent. The big question now is who is the right fit to drive that flaming motorcycle.
Ryan Gosling
Many popular ideas percolate throughout the MCU fanbase as to who should play Ghost Rider, and someone leading the charge for good reason is Ryan Gosling. At this point, it’s actually quite surprising that Gosling hasn’t yet ed the MCU. Thankfully, there’s a plethora of Marvel characters Gosling is well-suited to play, including Ghost Rider. In fact, he’s even expressed his interest in doing so, which seemingly piqued Kevin Feige’s interest, with the MCU head stating, “I’d love to find a place for him in the MCU.” Regardless of Gosling’s desires, he would be a strong choice as he is a certifiable movie star and could helm his own film series.
Gosling’s talents would help him showcase Johnny Blaze as a quietly confident with engaging grit. His portrayal would inherently diverge from the previous Ghost Rider films starring Nicolas Cage, who could even come back into play as a multiversal variant as Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield were for Spider-Man. Gosling is strong on his own, but he can also work well with others - important given Ghost Rider would certainly feature in the MCU Midnight Sons film that seems likely. Currently, Gosling is consistently booked with Barbie this year and The Fall Guy next year, but if the schedule works out, he would make for a great Ghost Rider.
Boyd Holbrook
If the MCU is looking for someone charismatic, yet menacing enough to drive Ghost Rider’s hellish motorcycle, they needn’t look further than Boyd Holbrook. He is perhaps best recognized now for his turns as the Corinthian in The Sandman, DEA Steven Murphy in Narcos, and Donald Pierce in Logan. That means he’s played a Marvel character before, but that wouldn’t restrict him from doing it again. It was a different universe, although Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds are set to cross over into the MCU in Deadpool 3. While Jackman can return as Wolverine despite his death in Logan, the same can’t be said for Donald Pierce.
Holbrook would be a fun choice specifically as Danny Ketch, who, while being the third Ghost Rider, should the MCU as soon as possible alongside Johnny Blaze. The two are actually half-brothers and over the years have shared a complex history. That should be explored in the MCU, and Holbrook would be a fun choice to help accomplish that. He’s a recognizable face, though deserving of more attention, and he would be a very good fit for a long-term gig with the MCU, whether in films or TV shows, or even a Disney+ special.
Scott Eastwood
Scott Eastwood is well known for being the son of Clint Eastwood, working with him on several movies, but he’s still made a name for himself. Scott could be a cool choice for the MCU’s Ghost Rider. He certainly has the looks of a leading man and exudes the rugged and intimidating strength that the character needs to excel. Funnily enough, Scott Eastwood does have limited experience in superhero movies. He played Lieutenant “GQ” Edwards, a member of Rick Flag’s operation in Suicide Squad. Regardless of the current state of the DCU, this isn’t a role he’ll be returning to, so perhaps he could find a home in the MCU.
He actually chose not to return to The Suicide Squad after speaking with his father, who said, “If it’s a good part, then do it. If not, then don’t.” Conversely, this could be a good part and as the MCU is already primed for Ghost Rider’s debut, there are some cool possibilities for what Eastwood could do with him. Whether Blaze or Ketch, in films or on Disney+, Eastwood can emulate the grit and haunting persona of Ghost Rider though still with a personable sense of levity that fits the classic MCU mold.
Luke Grimes
The MCU has been celebrated for its ingenious casting, often going with relatively unknown actors or at the least rising stars. Shining examples of that are Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland, and Simu Liu. Ghost Rider would be a good candidate for them to continue the tradition by casting Luke Grimes. He’s definitely a rising star worthy of special recognition, well regarded for playing Kayce Dutton on the hit series Yellowstone, now available on Prime Video. Grimes already has one shared universe under his belt, so another like the MCU would be an exciting next step in his career.
Grimes would certainly be a smart choice for Johnny Blaze or Danny Ketch, swapping his horses from Yellowstone for a motorcycle, as he is young and could play the hero for a long time. The role could help to propel him to the A-list as the MCU has done with others in the past. In his past jobs he’s showcased a versatility necessary to not let the Ghost Rider be a one-trick pony in the MCU, so should he be given the chance he can excel in the role.
Bill Skarsgård
Bill Skarsgård has become well known for playing villains and antagonists over the recent years, most famously, Pennywise the Dancing Clown in It and It Chapter 2. He set to do it again this year in Captain Marvel.
Truthfully, the prospect of seeing Bill Skarsgård as the hero this time around is quite exciting, especially since Ghost Rider must survive longer than Skarsgård's character in Deadpool 2, Zeitgeist. He has already demonstrated his skills at motion-capture performances, something that would be somewhat necessary to get Ghost Rider’s flaming skull right. Whether or not Ghost Rider debuts in Blade as some theorize, Skarsgård has the acting range to cover the character’s anger, humor, vulnerability, and dangerous edge.
Travis Fimmel
Another good option for a reliable and established actor deserving of more attention and therefore a good fit for the MCU is Travis Fimmel. He is best recognized for starring in the first four seasons of Vikings as the legendary Norse hero, Ragnar Lothbrok. Fimmel is also known for headlining the ill-fated Warcraft film, which despite its poor performance at the domestic box office is still the highest-grossing video game movie of all time. Despite its poor reception, Warcraft still proved that Fimmel is a natural fit as a lead in of action and darkly complex characters. Therefore, Ghost Rider is right up his alley.
Fimmel is set to lend his strength and presence to another franchise, having ed the cast of Dune: The Sisterhood, which will explore the history and powers of the Bene Gesserit. Others could try to snatch him up if given the chance, so the MCU should act fast. The Australian actor would be a good fit for either Blaze or Ketch, regardless of if the approach is to make them cold and calculating or ionate and exciting. Fimmel can do it all.
Dacre Montgomery
A wildcard pick for Ghost Rider is Dacre Montgomery of Stranger Things and Power Rangers fame. He’d be a great choice for the character’s longevity in the franchise. With so many big players these days even with the sheer amount of content the MCU puts out in a year, there can be a long time between a single character’s project. Therefore, a young actor like Montgomery could mean he’s in it for the long haul. Plus, he’s already demonstrated a demonic side to himself and the necessary range throughout Stranger Things, especially season 3 when the Mind Flayer, or rather Vecna, was controlling Billy.
Seeing Montgomery grow and develop in the MCU as both Johnny Blaze and Ghost Rider would be fascinating. He has what it takes to tackle the characters’ internal turmoil, while still exemplifying an enticing charm and devilish confidence. While Billy clearly was a terrible person in Stranger Things, it was easy to see how broken he was, and that’s a pathos necessary to make Ghost Rider land in the MCU. The role would be challenging, yet if done right, engaging, and thus, Dacre Montgomery is certainly among others as a strong candidate to usher in a new age of the MCU as Ghost Rider.
