As the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow and grow, it begs the question of just how much bigger the world's most famous franchise can go. I mean, when you've surpassed the stratosphere a decade ago, everyone has to ask that question at some point. Heck, it's been asked time and time again. And somehow, Marvel continues to defy expectations.
The franchise has expanded its own horizons in recent years through the Multiverse Saga, welcoming in characters and concepts from Marvel movies long before the MCU was a thing. But its ambitions didn't stop there, as it has also seen the franchise make its way onto Disney Plus through the format of TV shows and standalone specials. Although there were some blips along the way, the studio endured with last year's comebacks Deadpool and Wolverine and Agatha All Along. And it will no doubt continue to do so when the X-Men make their official introduction in the Mutants Era.
One thing that helps Marvel continue to reach new heights is the star power that it continues to draw. The Multiverse Saga has added names like Harrison Ford, Julia Louis Dreyfus and Kathryn Hahn, and now the MCU may be getting another fan-favorite star in the coming years in the form of a major Marvel hero.
Marvel Studios rumored to want Keanu Reeves as Ghost Rider
According to Marvel scooper account Marvel News, the studio is rumored to be eyeing Keanu Reeves to play Ghost Rider in an upcoming MCU movie. This report doesn't go into detail about when or where we could expect the Spirit of Vengeance to pop up, but it does suggest that his arrival could finally be on the horizon. With Reeves as a potential casting here, anticipation for that arrival would no doubt increase.
It's no exaggeration to say that Keanu Reeves is one of the most beloved actors on the planet. He's been a longtime fan-favorite, known for his acclaimed performances in The Matrix moves, and the Bill and Ted films. However, he experienced a major career resurgence within this past decade due to his starring role in the gripping John Wick movies, which have only added to his star-power.
Taking that into account, it's clear why Reeves would be a popular choice for the role of Ghost Rider in the MCU. The man is a born action hero, radiating charisma and badassery with ease. To say that he would be capable of bringing that aura to Ghost Rider would be an understatement. Johnny Blaze (or whichever variation of the character Marvel Studios inevitably adapts) is one of the coolest, most iconic, and jaw-dropping heroes within the pages of Marvel Comics, forcing readers to sit up and pay attention whenever he revs his motorcycle into view; very much in the way Reeves makes us do the same when he appears on our screens.
Another name who has been closely associated with the role in recent years is Ryan Gosling. The Academy-Award-nominated actor has been very vocal about his desire to play the character in the MCU, and Marvel Studios president himself, Kevin Feige, even acknowledged his comments, telling Ryan that he would love to have him in a role in the Marvel Studios franchise. The only question is whether that role will be as the Spirit of Vengeance or not.
In Ghost Rider's previous cinematic appearances, he was portrayed by Nicolas Cage. Like Reeves, Cage is an intense performer capable of bringing the attention-grabbing hero to life and he did so extremely convincingly in 2007's Ghost Rider and its 2011 sequel The Spirit of Vengeance. The character also appeared in ABC TV series Marvel's Agents of SHIELD. The Robbie Reyes version of the character, he was portrayed by Gabriel Luna - who almost reprised the role in a spinoff series that was ultimately cancelled.
With a new Ghost Rider project rumored to be in development (along with a potential Midnight Sons movie), MCU fans are ready to meet the franchise's own version of Ghost Rider. If the Keanu Reeves report turns out to be true, you can bet that they will be extremely excited.