Is Ghost Rider Coming to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Well, it appears the time of Inhumans has come and gone with Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Now the agency is moving on and has to find some other obstacle to overcome. Could it be another intergalactic invader like the Skrulls? How about a visit from the Mole People? Or even better… what if S.H.I.E.LD. came face-to-face with the paranormal anti-hero, Ghost Rider??
That’s right… rumors are now beginning to swirl around the idea that Ghost Rider will be riding alongside Agent Phil Coulson and Lola. It all started earlier this month when a San Diego Comic-Con bus advertisement seemed to show Ghost Rider’s iconic, fiery chains alongside the show’s logo. Take a look.
Many just believed the chains belonged to Hellfire; he was introduced last season as a disciple of Hive and is now on his own. He even began using his customary chain weapon, so everything seemed to point towards J.T. Slade becoming a more prominent player in the series. That was until new details emerged about the pending Season 4.
Our friend’s over at Comicbook.com noticed something interesting on an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. casting call. Apparently, the show is looking to cast two Latino brothers: one brother is described as “the most dangerous person in the room,” while the other is “paralyzed in a wheelchair.” That might sound a little familiar because it seems they’re looking to cast Robbie and Gabe Reyes, the leads in the newer Ghost Rider comic series.
Robbie Reyes debuted in 2014 as a gifted mechanic and high school student who was just trying to get himself, and his developmentally disabled brother Gabe, out of their dangerous East L.A. neighborhood. After he was gunned down by mercenaries, Reyes was resurrected by a ghost and accepted the mantle of The Rider. One big difference with the Reyes incarnation: he doesn’t drive a motorcycle. Instead, his classic black muscle car serves as his flaming carriage of dark justice.
Should the end result of these rumors lead to Ghost Rider showing up in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., it would be a major home run swing for the show. Bringing on an iconic character like Ghost Rider would be something that could attract plenty of new viewers (something the show desperately needs). It also enables the show to finally connect to other Marvel properties, particularly the Netflix series.
Last month, Mephisto popped up as a potential antagonist with The Defenders (the eventual team up of Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Iron Fist). Anyone familiar with the character knows he was the one responsible for giving the O.G. Ghost Rider – Johnny Blaze – his powers. Now, Robbie Reyes can serve as that linchpin between Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Netflix series, connecting the MCU TV shows. You can even introduce Reyes on network television, which can lead to the rumored Ghost Rider series on Netflix (where Johnny Blaze can take the mantle if Marvel wants). Maybe that version can bring Norman Reedus on board like he wants!
The possible inclusion of Ghost Rider isn’t the only major change coming to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s next season. That same casting call looking for two Latino brothers is also looking for a new female lead named Aida. That sure seems like the android Dr. Holden Radcliffe was working on during Season 3’s finale. So get ready… Life Model Decoys appear ready to finally join the MCU. It’s about time.
So, Ghost Rider and LMD’s. If you aren’t keeping up with Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., you may want to start now. It appears the show is about to reboot itself with an all new direction, and with a new 10pm time-slot, it opens the door for more adult-orientated action. Seems like a perfect time to introduce a skull-flaming hero to TV viewers.