TheMarvel Cinematic Universeis continuing to expand year by year. After Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox in 2019, theMCUnow has access to a vast number of heroes and villains that were previously unavailable to them. When the franchise began in 2008, Spider-Man, the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Ghost Rider were all owned by different studios and, therefore, off limits in terms of appearing in the MCU. But now that Disney have all the rights, these characters will start to appear imminently. Spider-Man has already returned, beginning his MCU journey inCaptain America: Civil War.Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine will appear inDeadpool 3, and John Krasinski showed up inDoctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madnessin May of last year.
Still, there hasn’t been much, if any, information on Ghost Rider’s introduction into the MCU. The character did appear towards the end ofAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D, but it’s still up for debate in regard to whether that show takes place within the main universe or in an alternate Earth. For years now, many fans have become convinced that Keanu Reeves would be a perfect choice for the role of Ghost Rider in the MCU, and it’s not too late to cast the action star as the anti-hero. In fact, now could be a perfect time to green light a project starring Keanu Reeves as Ghost Rider. It would mean casting one of the most recognizable actors on the planet to play a beloved character from the Marvel Comics.
RELATED:Deadpool 3 Fan Art Has Wolverine And Deadpool Go ‘On One Last Ride’
Why a Keanu Reeves Ghost Rider Movie Could Work
Marvel fans have cited Keanu Reeves as the best choice to play Ghost Rider in the MCU for a variety of reasons. For one, Reeves is used to playing a comic book hero with ties to the devil or the afterlife, as he played Constantine for the DC franchise in the early 2000s. Reeves has always been positive about that film and the character, even after it received relatively poor reviews and underperformed at the box office. He’s even said that he would be open to returning in the future.Reeves could clearly bringthat same level of excitement to play Ghost Rider, which could get audiences more interested in this movie going forward.
Beyond that, Keanu Reeves as Ghost Rider would work because of his ability to play darker, complex characters. John Wick, for example, has had quite a journey across the four films that he’s in, and Keanu Reeves is able to convey a lot without saying much. Ghost Rider can often be that kind of character in the comics, depending on the depiction, so there’s clearly some precedent that shows that Keanu Reeves ismore than capable of playing a charactersuch as Ghost Rider.
Some fans have said that Reeves is too old to play Ghost Rider, because of the MCU’s desire to cast younger actors in order to keep them around as much as possible. However, Reeves has shown a remarkable level of physical fitness, demonstrating his ability to keep up with the rest of the MCU’s stars for years to come. He also has a level of dedication and commitment that is extremely admirable. All of that would make a Keanu Reeves Ghost Rider movie work even more.
What makes Keanu Reeves right for Ghost Rider?
Keanu Reeves also brings a notable level of physicality for the role of Ghost Rider that would be necessary to portray the character. Reeves trained for years for hisJohn Wickfilms to memorize the choreography, and become convincing at playing an expert hitman/assassin. That same experience could come in handy if he were to play Ghost Rider. Ghost Rider rides a motorcycle and often engages in elaborate stunts and action sequences, something that Keanu Reeveswould be extremely good at. As John Wick, he has driven motorcycles and cars, and run through crowded and dangerous streets, highlighting the skill he has at doing this sort of thing.
Keanu Reeves is also a big comic book fan, which makes him an evenbetter fit for the role of Ghost Rider. Reeves recently wrote his own comic book calledBRZRKR, so he’s clearly passionate enough about this world to commit to playing a character like Ghost Rider. He’s also explicitly stated that he’s open to joining the MCU in the future. Earlier this year, regarding the opportunity, he said:
“[It] would be fun. I love those movies. It’s great to be in that kind of make-believe land and be in those big movies and have fun like that. Hopefully, one day, they can find something that I’m suitable for.”
Clearly, someone with that level of passion and openness could join the MCU soon, so fans might be on to something when suggesting Keanu Reeves to play Ghost Rider.
