Nicolas Cage recently commented on how interesting it would be to see Ghost Rider in the MCU — and there's a reason why the actor who once played the anti-hero is spot on. Nicolas Cage played Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, the latter of which marked the character's last appearance on the big screen. 10 years later, Johnny Blaze emerges as one of the last high-profile Marvel characters to still not have been featured in the MCU.

Although Ghost Rider has been away from the big screen since 2012, one version of the character appeared in Agents of Shield. Robbie Reyes was an important part of Agents of Shield season 4, which also featured a brief appearance by Johnny Blaze in his Ghost Rider form. As audiences still haven't been given a clear answer as to whether Agents of Shield is canon to the movies, it's still not possible to say that Ghost Rider has been introduced in the MCU. The fact that both Ghost Rider films received negative critical responses might give the impression to non-comic book audiences that the character is simply not as interesting as other Marvel names. However, flawed adaptations shouldn't overshadow the fact that Ghost Rider, especially Johnny Blaze, is one of the most complex and interesting characters in the Marvel universe. After selling his soul to Mephisto, the same demon fans thought was the villain behind WandaVision (and Loki), Johnny Blaze became bonded with a Spirit of Vengeance and as a result, gained the abilities to control the forces of hell.

Related: Every Marvel Movie That Isn't Part Of The MCU

After a first decade focused on the most classic superhero tales, now is the perfect time for the MCU to delve into the darker, more violent side of the Marvel universe. Moon Knight, one of Marvel's most complex characters, will receive in his own Disney+ series soon. Blade, another hero focused on the more mystical side of Marvel, was recently introduced in Eternals and will get a movie starring Mahershala Ali. The introduction of these characters means that it's the perfect time for Ghost Rider to also join the MCU. With Ghost Rider in the franchise, these characters could come together under Doctor Strange to give the MCU an adaptation of the Midnight Sons, a group made up of misfits heroes, and antiheroes who often face the mystical, darker threats in the Marvel universe.

 

Johnny Blaze was abandoned at a very young age by his mother, Naomi Kate, who feared her family's curse would fall on the boy. Johnny also had to deal with the death of his father and later with the impending loss of his adoptive father, which essentially led to him making his deal with the devil Mephisto. A character that combines both the psychological nuance and coolness of riding a motorcycle powered by the forces of hell would be a natural fit for the MCU after the more mystical and psychologically nuanced exploration of WandaVision and mysticism becoming ever more important as the once science-driven MCU moves towards magic.

More than the mystical aspects of the character, Ghost Rider also stands out for its psychological aspects, something that could set the character aside from other MCU heroes. While no projects or cameos involving Ghost Rider in the MCU have been rumored, many are keen to see the character get a second chance at a big-budget movie. Norman Reedus, Daryl from The Walking Dead, is often the target of fan casts and fan-arts for the role.

After the end of the Infinity Saga and the prospects for new heroes and stories in the MCU, it's time for the franchise to introduce Ghost Rider. Whether it's Johnny Blaze or any of the other versions, the mystical aspects and consequent moral dilemmas that accompany the character would make a great addition to the universe. At a time when the Multiverse makes pretty much anything possible, maybe even Nic Cage could be given one more chance as Ghost Rider before passing the torch, both literally and figuratively, to a new version.

Next: MCU Theory: How WandaVision Set Up Blade & The Midnight Sons

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