charlie hunnam as ghost rider

8 Actors Who Could Play Ghost Rider In The MCU

Ghost Rider could be the next addition to the MCU, but which actor best fits the role?

With Blade and Moon Knight entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe , the Midnight Sons and other supernatural Marvel elements will likely be appearing soon as well. One such Marvel character fans have been begging for in the MCU is Ghost Rider. Sure the character had the memeable film starring Nicholas Cage, but in recent years the television show Agents of Shield featured Ghost Rider, and the performance and character were both solid by all accounts.

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Though Ghost Rider is known for his flaming skull head, that doesn't mean landing the right actor for the role is unimportant, as it's the relationship between the human and supernatural elements of the character that provides storytelling opportunities.

8 Keanu Reeves

It's weird to have Keanu Reeves on the lists, as he seems to be rather eccentric and ethereal for a role as dark as Ghost Rider. That being said, the John Wick films proved that Reeves still holds star power and can carry an action film.

This casting, though it could work, would most closely resemble the version of the character played by Nicholas Cage, and this seems like a direction Kevin Feige and Marvel would want to avoid. Reeves also seems like someone who will want to leave the world of acting in the coming years, so it's unclear if Marvel would cast someone who may not be around for the long haul.

7 Laz Alonso

Laz Alonso is a name on its own that most people reading this likely won't recognize. That's a real shame considering Alonso has brought the character of Mother's Milk in Amazon's The Boys to life in a way no one expected. He manages to blend the stoic and no-nonsense persona with a true charismatic energy that has audiences cheering for him.

The tone of his voice and the gravitas he presents on screen feel like the type of intangibles Ghost Rider should have in the MCU . It's about time Alonso gets his flowers for being the backbone of one of the most successful and beloved superhero properties currently going, and a role in the MCU feels right.

6 Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in The Walking Dead was one of the darkest and most vile portrayals of a villain in television history. These days Morgan is set to appear in Amazon's highly successful superhero satire The Boys . Fans have speculated if or when he'd join the MCU, and there may be no better character for him than Ghost Rider.

It'd surely be a much older take on the character. A fun idea would be to have Morgan playing the Johnny Blaze version of the character, and upon his death or disappearance, he helps introduce the younger generation version of the character, Robbie Reyes.

5 Nat Wolff

The boldest casting for Ghost Rider would be if the MCU decided to pivot to a much younger portrayal of the flaming spirit. This is where Nat Wolff comes in. Sure the actor has been attached to some roles audiences hated, but the dislike of those shows and movies wasn't due to Wolff's performance and were mostly things out of his control.

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When he's a part of a project with good writing and direction, he almost always shows his acting capability. Sure Keanu Reeves or Jeffrey Dean Morgan would be fun choices for Ghost Rider, but there's an argument to be made that Nat Wolff could nail the younger version of the character those older men would portray.

4 Charlie Hunnam

Charlie Hunnam is the first of two actors known for riding motorcycles that may very well nail the role of Ghost Rider. Having the ability to ride a motorcycle and look cool while doing it is a plus, but it's what Hunnam brought to the role of Jax Teller in Sons of Anarchy that makes him a fit. Teller was a man who was brave to a fault and a natural leader.

He also happened to be quite stubborn, but always made sure to try and follow the idea of being the "perfect outlaw", an ideal brought forth by his father. Ghost Rider functions in a similar way where whoever embodies the spirit has to make compromises, but at the end of the day tries to do the right thing.

3 LaKeith Stanfield

LaKeith Stanfield is too good of an actor to not be in the MCU in any capacity. Some fans have suggested that Stanfield play the Human Torch or Nightcrawler, both stellar ideas for the actor. When thinking about Ghost Rider, on the surface it may feel like an odd pairing, but that thought process does a disservice to Stanfield's range.

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The actor often talks about pushing himself and taking roles outside his comfort zone, and though Ghost Rider would be a new challenge, Stanfield's resume indicates he's likely to hit the ground running. His entrance into the MCU is more of a matter of when not if.

2 Norman Reedus

Sure, the idea of making a guy known for riding a motorcycle in another property a hero known for riding a motorcycle in Marvel Comics feels a bit uninspired, but that's not the case with Norman Reedus. He naturally exudes a charismatic aura that immediately endears him to audiences.

Add in that the idea of playing an emotionally layered character who sacrifices for his family, and the role of Ghost Rider starts to feel more and more like a role destined for Reedus. The success of The Walking Dead already makes him a financially viable leading man, and all Kevin Fiege and the company have to do is make the phone call.

1 Gabriel Luna

Gabriel Luna is the actor who brought the Robbie Reyes version of the character to life in the Agents of Shield television show. By all accounts he turned in a phenomenal performance and audiences have been pitching the idea of bringing him over to the big screen.

In recent years the MCU has decided to fold many elements of the Netflix Marvel shows into MCU canon, with the likes of Daredevil and Kingpin . That means that there's hope that Luna reprises his role as Ghost Rider and can bring hell on wheels to the greater Marvel universe.

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Screen Rant

Mcu: 10 actors who should play the ghost rider, according to reddit.

It is only a matter of time before the Ghost Rider is introduced into the MCU. When that happens, Reddit has a few casting suggestions.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow with each passing month, as new characters from the Marvel Comics multiverse finally see the big screen in the largest film and television franchise in the history of cinema. At the rate that the MCU is expanding, it is only a matter of time before each of Marvel's most popular characters finds themselves adapted.

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One character that has yet to make an appearance in the official Marvel Studios films or television series is the Ghost Rider. Despite making an appearance in Season 4 of  Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. , the Ghost Rider has yet to be acknowledged in the MCU proper, leading many fans on Reddit to call for certain actors to helm the iconic character's inevitable arc in the franchise.

Charlie Hunnam

Reddit user  Mister_Doctor_0127  voices their own opinion on who should play the Ghost Rider in the MCU. "If they're going with Johnny Blaze [the original Ghost Rider host], I'd love for it to be Charlie Hunnam."

The Sons of Anarchy  star is no stranger to playing tough characters with a penchant for motorcycle riding, and could blend quite nicely with the other talent he would be surrounded with in the MCU. Hunnam has also proven himself capable of leading in dramatic roles, such as in  The Lost City of Z , which showcased his potential as a leading man.

Antony Starr

While responding to a post indicating that the Ghost Rider actor for the MCU had already been selected, Redditor  FictionFantom  suggested that "Antony Starr would be an interesting choice" for the character, which would give the actor "a chance to do another comic book story without being compared to Homelander."

Though the New Zealand actor is best known for playing the unstable superhero Homelander in the Amazon series  The Boys , Starr has also demonstrated his ability to portray brutal leading men, such as his role as Lucas Hood in  Banshee. Having him star as the demon-powered Ghost Rider could be the next logical step in the actor's career.

Luke Grimes

One Reddit user by the name of  ThighCream  had several choices of actors for different versions of the Ghost Rider. Their pick for the teenaged Johnny Blaze was a standout among their list. "If they wanted to go the younger route for Johnny Blaze," they write, "I'd say Luke Grimes."

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Luke Grimes may be an up-and-coming actor, best known for supporting roles in  Yellowstone  and the  Fifty Shades  franchise, but playing a Marvel hero could be the breakout role he needs to become a bonafide Hollywood leading man.

 Nicolas Cage

Reddit user  NeutralNoodle  has an eerily familiar choice for which actor should next take on the role of Ghost Rider, suggesting that "Nic Cage is the only choice." Many longtime Marvel fans may remember that Cage is the only actor to portray the Ghost Rider in a live-action film, appearing in 2007's  Ghost Rider , and its sequel four years later.

Despite the fact that Cage has already portrayed the superhero in two less-than-well-received films, it isn't impossible for him to return to the role in the MCU. The franchise's next film, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness , has already indicated that it will bring back several pre-MCU actors in their original superhero roles, and may even  give Cage a chance to redeem himself and his character.

Boyd Holbrook

"Real talk," writes Reddit user  dondonzino , calling to attention a comment section under a post detailing Ghost Rider's potential introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "Boyd Holbrook... should be Ghost Rider."

Holbrook is no stranger to the Marvel Universe, having made an appearance as the cyborg Donald Pierce in  Logan , which is considered to be one of the greatest superhero films of all time.  With Fox's  X-Men series coming to an end, perhaps now is the perfect time for Holbrook to return to the superhero genre as a new character in Ghost Rider.

Jensen Ackles

"I really want Jensen Ackles for Johnny Blaze,"  clintbridges  writes, drawing general assent from various commenters in the Reddit thread. Their suggestion comes just before Ackles is set to make his superhero genre debut in  The Boys  season 3 as Soldier Boy, one of the original superheroes.

Ackles is best known for playing Dean Winchester in the long-running CW drama  Supernatural , which proved the actor's prowess in an action-heavy story, something essential to every Marvel project. With  Supernatural  recently ended, Ackles is on the hunt for his next big role--which makes him a viable candidate for the Ghost Rider.

Matthew McConaughey

Commenting on a post asking about actors who could bring the Ghost Rider to life on the big screen, Redditor,  TheBigBigStorm  offered a somewhat out-of-the-box suggestion: "How about Matthew McConaughey as Johnny Blaze."

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If Marvel Studios intended on introducing an older, more weathered Johnny Blaze, perhaps to mentor the younger Robbie Reyes, McConaughey could well exhibit the role of a grizzled Ghost Rider. While his role would probably be minimal in comparison to that of the younger, less experienced Rider, McConaughey could certainly drop a memorable performance.

Jon Bernthal

Redditor  MGH-Head  has an out-of-the-box idea that combines two fan-favorite characters from Marvel comics, stating that Marvel should "bring Jon Bernthal in as the Cosmic Ghost Rider." Many fans will recognize Bernthal from his role as the Punisher in his self-titled series.

The Punisher is one of many characters whom Marvel fans hope will show up again soon in the MCU . MGH-Head's suggestion would have him do so by taking the form of the Cosmic Ghost Rider, an alternate-universe Frank Castle who has been endowed with the Spirit of Vengeance, making for a very powerful antihero. Should this version of the character ever appear in the MCU, it would surely cause fans to celebrate profusely.

Norman Reedus

A Redditor under the handle of  Demonic74  relays rumors regarding the Rider's casting: "I've heard rumors [that] Norman Reedus might be cast as Johnny Blaze, who I think would fit the character quite nicely." Reedus is currently starring in the final season of  The Walking Dead  as fan-favorite character Daryl Dixon.

Reedus has been a fan-favorite casting choice for Johnny Blaze's Ghost Rider for years, especially given his role in  The Walking Dead , which sees him play a weary biker with a heart of gold. If cast, Norman Reedus would make one of several  TWD  alumni to join the MCU, alongside the likes of Danai Gurira, Jon Bernthal, and Michael Rooker.

Gabriel Luna

Though casting a new Ghost Rider is very exciting, sometimes it's best to go with what has already worked in the past. One Redditor by the name of  FrameworkisDigimon  follows this idea, writing that they would "definitely rehire Gabriel Luna."

Fans of  Agents of SHIELD  will recognize Luna from his stint as the Robbie Reyes version of Ghost Rider, who appeared throughout the show's fourth season. For some time thereafter, Luna was expected to reprise his role in a self-titled spinoff series on Hulu, though the show never made it off the ground. Nevertheless, with the pre- WandaVision Marvel series standing a better chance than ever at being confirmed to be MCU canon after Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio's returns to the franchise, it seems possible that Luna could return as Reyes in the near future.

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10 Actors Besides Ryan Gosling Who Could Play Ghost Rider In The MCU

Gosling would make a stellar Ghost Rider, and so would these 10 other actors!

Marvel character Ghost Rider starts out as motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze, who sells his soul to Mephisto in return for curing his stepfather’s cancer. Mephisto bonds him with the demon Zarathos, which transforms Blaze into Ghost Rider when evil is near so he can return it to hell. Leather-clad with a flaming skull for a head, Ghost Rider’s many powers include superhuman strength, regeneration, invulnerability to fire, and of course his Penance Stare, during which he locks eyes with his victim and ravages their soul by making them experience all the pain and suffering they’ve caused.

Johnny Blaze was previously portrayed by Nicolas Cage in Ghost Rider (2007) and its sequel, Spirit of Vengeance (2011). He was played by Tom McComas on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D . Ryan Gosling ’s name has been favored in talks of recasting Ghost Rider for future MCU projects. While he’d likely be an excellent choice, there are lots of other ways it could go. These actors could all play Ghost Rider and do a bang-up job of it.

Norman Reedus

Best known for playing Daryl Dixon on The Walking Dead , Norman Reedus already has eleven seasons’ experience with a comic book adaptation, though his character was specifically developed for the show. Daryl Dixon is physically and mentally strong, traits that would translate well to Ghost Rider. And after fending off zombies and predatory survivors for 175 episodes , fans of The Walking Dead can certainly attest to Reedus’ believable combat skills.

Before his first acting gig, Reedus worked in a Harley Davidson motorcycle shop. Since gaining notoriety, he’s translated his enthusiasm for bikes into the AMC show Ride with Norman Reedus where he and a guest ride to different destinations while exploring biker culture. He’ll look at home on Blaze’s motorcycle.

Charlie Hunnam

Charlie Hunnam ’s television experience is even more applicable than Reedus’. He played biker outlaw Jax Teller for 92 episodes on FX series Sons of Anarchy . Jax was the motorcycle club’s president and spent most of the series riding a 2003 Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Sport with a black powder coated engine and high-risers for handlebars. Jax also had the highest kill count of the series, so presumably Hunnam will wield Ghost Rider’s Hellfire Shotgun with authority.

Hunnam took up boxing and Brazilian Jiujitsu to prepare for his role in King Arthur , so he’s physically capable of bringing the heat. And he was considered early on to play Thor before Chris Hemsworth blew everyone away, which may mean that the MCU is his destiny.

Common is a rapper and actor with an impressive range of roles under his belt, including action films like Wanted , Terminator Salvation , and John Wick: Chapter 2 . He’s also got some comic book bona fides, having briefly appeared in the DCEU in David Ayer ’s Suicide Squad as Monster T, a crime boss in Gotham City who openly ogles Harley Quinn at a strip club and promptly gets shot in the head by Joker.

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Common wouldn’t be the first or the last to crossover between Marvel and DC films. In fact, Nicolas Cage himself has straddled both, voicing Spider-Man Noir in Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse and Superman in Teen Titans GO! To The Movies .

Keanu Reeves

Aside from 2005’s Constantine and voicing Batman in DC League of Super-Pets , Keanu Reeves ’ name has been regularly suggested for all kinds of superhero roles, but the actor has yet to join the MCU. The man is an avid comic book fan though and has even recently created and written one with Matt Kindt and drawn by Ron Garney. BRZRKR follows an immortal warrior as he fights his way through the ages; Netflix is already developing a live-action film starring Reeves as well as a follow-up anime series.

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A vision and leather and a known motorcycle enthusiast, Reeves once brought a Harley-Davidson to bike builder Gard Hollinger for customization that eventually retained only the Harley engine. They liked the result so much they formed the Arch Motorcycle Company together. Reeves clearly likes bikes, but does he like Marvel? When Jimmy Kimmel recently asked him what character his 10-year-old self would have wanted to play, he answered “Ghost Rider.”

Joshua Jackson

Known since childhood for roles in The Mighty Ducks and Dawson’s Creek , Joshua Jackson ’s most relevant film credit may be a little-known indie called One Week , in which he plays a man diagnosed with stage IV cancer who buys a used motorcycle and drives across Canada instead of having treatment.

Other television roles seem to have prepared him to play Ghost Rider: in Doctor Death , he routinely takes lives, in Fringe he encountered the supernatural, and in Little Fires Everywhere , flames shoot out of his skull. That last one may not be true, but there’s already more than enough evidence to prove Jackson is a viable fit for the role.

Steven Yeun

On Amazon Prime’ s Invincible , Steven Yeun voices Mark Grayson, the teenage son of the world’s most powerful superhero, Omni-Man (voiced by the MCU’s J.K. Simmons ). Invincible is based on the comic book written by The Walking Dead creator, Robert Kirkman . Yeun’s work on the show is so lauded by fans, they’ve clamored for him to take a live-action superhero role in the future.

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Ghost Rider seems like a good fit for Yeun, particularly when you factor in the probability of Ghost Rider being introduced to the MCU via the upcoming film Blade , starring Mahershala Ali , who, coincidentally, voices Titan on Invincible. Since Blade also has ties to the supernatural, it seems inevitable that he and Ghost Rider will cross paths.

Andrew Scott

Andrew Scott is one of the most versatile working actors today, with memorable roles including Moriarty in Sherlock , Bond’s careless boss in Spectre , and an aficionado of the supernatural in His Dark Materials , not to mention voicing several characters for the Big Hero 6 series.

Perhaps most importantly, it feels right that Fleabag ’s Hot Priest should be doing the devil’s work. Ghost Rider can rain down hellfire, purge souls, eat sins, invoke damnation, and perform exorcisms. This role will require someone familiar with both sides of the occult.

Lenny Kravitz

Rock star and actor, Lenny Kravitz would at the very least nail Johnny Blaze’s coolness. His best-known acting credit is as Cinna in The Hunger Games and its follow-up, Catching Fire , but fans needn’t dig too deep to ascertain his primary qualification: looking killer in leather.

And since his daughter, Zoë Kravitz , has appeared as Selina Kyle in The Batman , and his Eskimo brother Jason Momoa as Aquaman , it seems only fair that Lenny should get his shot too.

Justin Theroux

Full disclosure: Justin Theroux appeared briefly in Joker in the uncredited role of actor Ethan Chase, also the name of Zach Galifianakis ’ character in Due Date , another film by director Todd Phillips which co-stars Iron Man, Robert Downey, Jr . Blink and you’ll miss him; Theroux’s only seen on a television screen as a guest on the Murray Franklin show. Currently, he does not appear to be revisiting the role for the film’s sequel, leaving him open for a possible spot in the MCU.

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While Theroux has never appeared in the MCU, he did write the screenplay for Iron Man 2 (he was personally recommended by Downey since Theroux also co-wrote Tropic Thunder ) . Combine those chops with his effortless biker style and a stable of four motorcycles he rides regularly, and you’ve got the makings of a terrific Ghost Rider.

Stephanie Beatriz

Johnny Blaze is supposed to be blue-eyed and strawberry blond while Ghost Rider is bald with flames coming out of his empty eye sockets. He’s also, technically, supposed to be a man, but who says Jenny Blaze can’t be the stunt woman behind the flaming skeleton?

Stephanie Beatriz is so perfect for the role, she already has one she could easily cut-and-paste: Rosa Diaz from Brooklyn Nine-Nine .

Rosa is tough, no-nonsense, used to hauling in perps , and prone to leather. Beatriz could do this with one skeletal hand tied behind her back.

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