As the MCU continues to expand the Multiverse in anticipation for Ghost Rider and again in its 2011 sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. This was before the rise of the MCU as it is known today. Intriguingly, there exists a deleted scene from Iron Man in which Nick Fury mentions Eric Bana’s Hulk, Spider-Man, and mutants as there was hope the MCU could incorporate them from the start. However, Ghost Rider was never considered among them.
It’s thanks for Spider-Man: No Way Home and its reintegration of both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Men that anyone is thinking there’s a chance that other heroes from non-MCU Marvel movies could reappear. Patrick Stewart reprised as Professor X in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, albeit a different one from Fox’s X-Men Universe, which will be getting integrated into some into the MCU when Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine crossover in Deadpool 3. As such, there’s precedent for Avengers: Secret Wars to be a celebration of not solely the MCU, but Marvel movies as a whole and feature familiar faces like Cage as Ghost Rider.
Robbie Reyes Should Appear In Secret Wars, Not Johnny Blaze
While it would certainly be exciting to see Cage back on the motorcycle from Hell in Avengers: Secret Wars, especially since the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Luna portrayed Robbie Reyes, the fourth Ghost Rider. Technically that would mean that Ghost Rider has already appeared in the MCU. However, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the rest of Marvel Television were seemingly relegated to an alternate universe as they drifted further from the main narrative and Disney+ took its place. Should an old Ghost Rider come into play in Avengers: Secret Wars, it should be Luna’s Reyes.
Given recency bias, Reyes is relatively more recognizable, and it would energize Marvel fans to see him return. It could even happen before Avengers: Secret Wars as Blade could introduce Ghost Rider into the MCU. The best reason, however, to use Luna’s Reyes as opposed to Cage is that it doesn’t restrict the opportunity for Johnny Blaze or fellow Ghost Riders, Danny Ketch and/or Alejandra Jones, from appearing too. If it can excel with the many Iron Man knock-offs or various Spider-Men, the MCU would certainly be able to handle multiple Ghost Riders, whether they’re variants in Avengers: Secret Wars or natives of Earth-616 already.
Secret Wars Can Give Gabriel Luna's Ghost Rider Redemption
Gabriel Luna only appeared in 10 episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and was then set to headline his own project on Hulu as part of the MCU’s “Adventure into Fear” with Helstrom. Yet, that was abandoned following the restructuring of Marvel Studios in favor of the Disney+ series. Luna was a very good fit for Reyes and deserves another shot, whether in Avengers: Secret Wars solely or beyond ideally - for example, in the potential MCU Midnight Sons movie that seems more likely than ever. Bringing him back could open the door so he can finally get what he’s truly earned, a genuine and devoted Ghost Rider story.
With the MCU’s overarching narrative and intricately moving parts, Luna’s Ghost Rider is a good candidate for his own Special Presentation like Werewolf by Night - although a TV show would be fitting too. If they define him as being the same Reyes as before, they wouldn’t be saddled with having to redo his origins, and thus it could just race through to an engaging and thrilling story. Furthermore, Luna would likely have more longevity within the MCU compared to Cage, regardless of how enticing the prospect is. Thus, it’s clear that Gabriel Luna’s Ghost Rider is the better man for the job for Avengers: Secret Wars and beyond.
