So everybody’s favorite flame-headed demon hasn't had the greatest luck when it comes to adaptations. After being disappointed (to say the least) by 2012’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, fans were given renewed hope when they learned that the rights to the Spirit of Vengeance had been returned to his rightful owners, Marvel Studios. However, that was about the last thing we heard.
Now being owned by Disney, it’s understandable why fans of dark and violent characters like the Punisher or Ghost Rider were worried about their heroes being forgotten in the wake of happy and fun family films like Iron Man 3 or Guardians of the Galaxy. But when Marvel announced that they had made a deal with Netflix to produce more adult-oriented television shows, new hope was given to seeing the Marvel Knights in the ever-growing Marvel Cinematic Universe.
So if (or should I say, when, because you know it will happen eventually) Marvel decides to bring the Spirit of Vengeance into the MCU, how should they go about it? Here are a couple of options that I think would best serve the character, and the universe as a whole.
Netflix Series, Start With Danny Ketch: Back in the early-to-mid 80’s, the first Johnny Blaze Ghost Rider series was canceled. Then, after laying dormant for a few years, the character was revamped in the early 90’s by writer Howard Mackie. This time, Ghost Rider was not Johnny Blaze, but a young man named Danny Ketch. Whereas the first Ghost Rider series was relatively kid-friendly, this series was much darker and more violent.
Danny Ketch would be the perfect character for a Netflix series, because you could introduce more adult themes and violence with villains like Blackout and the Scarecrow. The tone could be like that of NBC’s Hannibal, very stylized and dark. Plus, it would also give you the opportunity to feature Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin, who is sure to be featured heavily throughout the Netflix shows.
Netflix Series, Already Established Johnny Blaze: Some of my favorite Ghost Rider stories in recent years (Garth Ennis’s Road to Damnation and Daniel Way’s run) have began with Johnny Blaze already having been the Ghost Rider for many years. In fact, both of those stories begin with Blaze being trapped in Hell. This would be a perfect way to begin the series. Not only could it account for Ghost Rider’s absence in the MCU so far, but you wouldn't have to tell an origin story that we've already seen. In Daniel Way’s run, Ghost Rider escapes Hell, but must then hunt down the devil, who is loose on Earth. This series would be a combination of the Ennis mini-series and the Way run. Both are very dark and intended for mature audiences, and have more in common with a horror movie than a superhero comic. The tone would be like that of the first season of HBO’s True Detective, very bleak and eerie, with a sense of evil and menace always residing below the surface, regardless of the tone of the scene.
Phase 4 Film: After Infinity War, Marvel is going to have to switch gears a little bit. Not only will many of their actors have fulfilled their contracts and moved on after that, but I think audiences just want to see something a little different. Everything in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been leading up to Infinity War, after those films are over, Marvel is going to have to shift focus to other heroes that haven’t had as much attention so far. With Spider-Man now in the MCU, and the Defenders show on Netflix, Marvel should focus more on street-level characters.
Think about it. We’ve just witnessed the INFINITY WAR. It would be hard for Marvel to top that, and I don’t think they should try to top it right away. Phase 4 should focus more on the smaller scale, street-level characters, the Marvel Knights, if you will (yes, I know Spider-Man isn't really part of the Marvel Knights, but he’s a street level character. Just go with it.). It could all eventually lead up to a Defenders movie, featuring characters like Spider-Man, Daredevil, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones, Punisher, Ghost Rider, Moon Knight, and Blade.
So those are the 3 options that I think would best work for Ghost Rider in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What do you think Marvel should do with the Spirit of Vengeance? What other street-level characters do you think should be introduced? Leave your comments below and thanks for reading.