Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider could have been in Deadpool & Wolverine, and while I was initially upset that the cameo did not happen, I now see it as a good thing. Cage starred in two Ghost Rider movies, in 2007 and 2011. That put his second entry as the holder of the Spirit of Vengeance after the start of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which began with Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man in 2008. Like most superhero movies of the 2000s, Cage’s Ghost Rider was notably cheesy, and visual effects were not always consistent.

Still, I remember enjoying the first Ghost Rider film when it came out, though the second entry was forgettable. Years later, I can see how Cage’s Ghost Rider movies are clearly not among the best live-action Marvel films out there. Due to that, I can’t see the MCU ever looking at Cage’s way to play its version of Johnny Blaze. That said, a multiverse cameo down the line is very much possible, especially as part of Avengers: Secret Wars. Cage’s Ghost Rider return could have already come as part of Deadpool & Wolverine‘s multiverse characters, but I’m glad it didn’t.

Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider Was Considered For Deadpool & Wolverine

There Was Even Concept Art Of The Marvel Character

I was somewhat surprised to hear about how Cage could have appeared as Ghost Rider in Deadpool & Wolverine. I can see how he would have fit the trend of 2000s Marvel stars returning as part of the Resistance that is fighting Cassandra Nova in the Void. However, at the same time, Cage’s Ghost Rider was not that beloved to begin with. Nevertheless, that version of Johnny Blaze really came close to appearing in the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. Speaking with Collider, Ryan Reynolds revealed Ghost Rider talks, saying, “Came to a conversation for sure. Yeah, but no.”

Reynolds’ comment on the matter makes sense, as multiple characters from the early Marvel live-action days must have been considered for the movie, and I would have loved to see some others that were missing from the MCU film. However, Cage’s Ghost Rider might have come closer than many of those other possible characters. The reason I say that is official Deadpool & Wolverine concept art includes Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider. The MCU art shows Cage’s Ghost Rider fighting alongside the movie’s Resistance team, Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, and Ben Affleck’s Daredevil against the Deadpool Corps.

Like Cage’s Ghost Rider, Affleck’s Daredevil was nowhere to be seen in the movie. However, the character was at least mentioned in connection to Jennifer Garner’s Elektra. The Deadpool & Wolverine concept art shared by Marvel Studios Visual Development Supervisor Rodney Fuentebella shows how different the movie could have been. According to Fuentebella, the concept came from early in the movie’s development. I think it would have been cool to see Daredevil and Ghost Rider join the Resistance heroes, but as I don’t think Affleck or Cage are the ideal versions of either, I’m not heartbroken by the change.

Elektra Already Filled The Role Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider Would Have Occupied

Marvel Planned Deadpool & Wolverine’s Multiverse Team Well

One of the reasons I believe that scrapping plans to include Cage’s Ghost Rider in Deadpool & Wolverine was a good idea is related to how Marvel crafted the Resistance’s roster. I think that every hero chosen for the multiverse team had a specific role within it. Dafne Keen’s X-23 was there due to her emotional connection to Jackman’s Wolverine; Wesley Snipes’ Blade is the hero that helped usher in the modern era of superhero movies; Chris Evans’ Human Torch is an MCU actor coming in a fan-favorite role, and Channing Tatum’s Gambit finally debuted after his movie was scrapped.

Being part of one of Marvel’s worst live-action projects, it was surprising to see Garner’s Elektra return in such a high-profile project as
Deadpool & Wolverine
.

Then there is Elektra. Jennifer Garner’s character was part of a divisive Daredevil movie, then went on to lead one of the most forgettable superhero films ever. Being part of one of Marvel’s worst live-action projects, it was surprising to see Garner’s Elektra return in such a high-profile project as Deadpool & Wolverine. However, I quite liked the character this time around, with the return serving to present that version of Elektra in a much better light. After two badly-received movies, Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider would have needed similar treatment, making him redundant if Garner’s Elektra was already there.

I Believe That Cage’s Ghost Rider Cameo Would Have Had Even More Baggage Due To The Flash

Two Major Multiverse Projects In A Row

Had he appeared in Deadpool & Wolverine, Cage would have played a couple of multiverse heroes in major projects two years in a row, and the first time around was not a positive experience. Nicolas Cage is a major Superman fan, even naming one of his sons Kal-El, Superman’s Kryptonian name. Despite being cast as the Man of Steel, Cage’s Superman Lives ended up falling through the cracks. 2023’s The Flash finally allowed the actor to fulfill his dream, with Cage appearing as Superman and fighting the giant spider he would have wrestled with in his scrapped Superman movie.

However, The Flash‘s entire multiverse sequence featured bad CGI, which led to Cage’s Superman debut, a moment that deserved to be epic, looking like a poorly-made video game scene. While I enjoyed The Flash as a whole, I very much disliked the choices made in the DCEU movie’s multiverse sequence and the awful CGI that made Cage’s Superman and all the other cameos devoid of any emotion. I’m convinced that the fact that Cage’s Ghost Rider movies are not beloved, plus his controversial multiverse cameo in The Flash, would have brought too much unnecessary baggage to Deadpool & Wolverine.

I Think The MCU Needs To Break Away From Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider

Marvel Studios Should Debut A New Ghost Rider

I want to see the MCU explore Ghost Rider, and I think that not having Cage’s version of the character in Deadpool & Wolverine is ultimately good for that to happen. After the MCU movie, many fans have been asking for Wesley Snipes to stay on as the franchise’s Blade, which comes amid a series of issues with Mahershala Ali’s in-development Blade film. If Marvel had brought Cage back as Ghost Rider and managed to make his version of Johnny Blaze better, perhaps the same could have happened, and so getting a new Ghost Rider would take even more time.

Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios’ Head of Streaming, Television and Animation, told

Collider

that he would green-light a Danny Ketch Ghost Rider series if he could, saying, ”
I think there are a lot of people who would be here for some Ghost Rider
.”

While I would love to see more legacy Marvel heroes appear in the MCU during the Multiverse Saga, I’m okay with holding off on using Ghost Rider until it is time for Marvel to cast a new actor in the role. Popular stars like Ryan Gosling, Keanu Reeves, and Norman Reedus want to play Ghost Rider. Adding to that, the character’s debut feels imminent, as Agatha All Along confirmed Mephisto, who is directly tied to Johnny Blaze, exists in the MCU. Without Cage’s Ghost Rider in Deadpool & Wolverine, the character’s first MCU appearance could start a new era.

All Announced Upcoming MCU Movies