Gabriel Luna Wants To Return As Ghost Rider In The MCU

Contrary to what actor Gabriel Luna has been saying about his run as the Ghost Rider back in 2016-2017, he is now open to bringing it into the MCU. That is if Marvel Studios has it on the table. Unlike what he was saying before when fans would come up to him about appearing again, he now welcomes the idea of going back to the character from the comic book pages.

First appearing as the Spirit of Vengeance on television in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Episode 1, Season 4, Luna, in a way already entered Marvel’s universe. However, the show itself, which began closely tied with the MCU through Agent Coulson, steadily veered away from what is now known as Earth 616.

Now, the events that transpired in the television series are unclear whether they happened in the same universe or in another that started out to be just like it. Could Marvel be treating it as another branch away from the Sacred Timeline? Right now, with Phase 5 strengthening the Phase 4 established multiverse and variants of characters and stories, it is actually anyone’s guess.

Gabriel Luna Now More Open To Reprising Ghost Rider In MCU

READ MORE: Ghost Rider Might Be Debuted In Doctor Strange 3

In a recent feature at Forbes, the former Robbie Reyes, aka Ghost Rider from Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. recalls the character with fondness. Furthermore, he appears to be welcoming the idea of going back to portraying the role should the studio decide. Practically inviting Marvel Studios to call him, the actor who portrayed The Last Of Us, Tommy Miller, said:

…I love that character. It was really special. It had only come into existence in 2014 (Robbie Reyes’ Ghost Rider), created by Felipe Smith, and then it was in 2016 that we did the show and literally not a day goes by that somebody doesn’t ask me about it.

Considering Disney and Marvel Studios, like many movie and television companies nowadays do, are focusing on diversity in their ensemble, Ghost Rider could be another character to add to the series and eventually appear on the big screen as well. Luna was quoted saying:

It feels like the demand may be there and if the creative is there and it makes sense… I think with Marvel right now, it’s so intricately woven that it would be a few years out if they started to think about it, to do the character. I’m always open.

The immediate projects on Marvel Studios’ slate may not show a clear path for Ghost Rider, but the pieces are indeed slowly getting into shape. If Disney Plus had Werewolf by Night and Moon Knight, who’s to say that Ghost Rider won’t be next in line? Given this possibility, it may be the reason why Luna is leaning more towards the possibility that he could portray Reyes again. He admitted:

My stock answer used to be, ‘I loved what we did, I’m very happy with what we accomplished and I can be happy leaving it on the shelf and admiring what we did and have the audience remember it fondly, the way they do. To do the character again just gives me another opportunity to screw it up.

Credit: ABC

This perception reminds me of how Chris Evans views his portrayal of Captain America Steve Rogers in the MCU. In his mind, Cap’s arc is beautifully made and told that it is going to be difficult to open those chapters again, which I agree with entirely. The same goes for the other OG Avengers, whose significant appearance was seen last in Avengers: Endgame.

Now, however, Luna isn’t closing his chapters of Ghost Rider completely. He even shared that due to his upcoming Netflix series Fubar with Arnold Schwarzenegger, he keeps himself fit. He said:

So there’s that mindset, but now I feel that I’m a lot more open should it come around. If it makes sense, I’m more than happy to… I try to keep myself in shape, Arnold demands it. So I’m still certainly physically capable of doing it and if it’s a great story and they’d have me, of course.

The actor further shared his insights on the advantage of portraying a role that has a solid literary foundation. He continued:

With characters like Robbie, the Ghost Rider, and Tommy (Miller, The Last of Us), they’ve been established and I’ve been able to access the source material, fall in love with it in a lot of ways and sometimes when you love something that strongly, it may interrupt your process and what you’re trying to accomplish.

I think it’s just important to balance it out, absolutely hit all the notes that you know are vital and are intricately part of the DNA of certain characters and then it’s naturally going to take its own shape if I’m just honest and myself there on the day.

It’s important to honor what people love about certain things, what I love about it. And that kind of helps if you have a few of the blocks already laid, some of the foundation is already strong, I think it’s important to start building from there.

Gabriel Luna Thinks Ghost Rider Deserves To Be In The MCU

Credit: ABC

READ MORE: Nicolas Cage In Talks For Ghost Rider In Secret Wars

Earlier in January this year, he also reminisced about portraying the comic book character in an interview with ComicBook.com. He said:

You know, I think that the way we left it… I would definitely think that there’s a lot more to say. I loved the response. Everyone loved Robbie and they loved the character.

For a time, there was a possibility of having a spin-off series about Ghost Rider, which did not eventually push through. Sharing his thoughts about the time, he told:

And if we only ever did those ten episodes and nothing else, I would feel very complete with what we were able to do. To bring awareness to the character, to show people a Mexican-American hero — the first on television, I believe.

I know that’s said a lot but I think people forget about 2016 when we did that with Robbie. But he’s a wonderful character and I love him. I’d absolutely be happy to continue.

Proving that he is well-versed in the character’s background, even in the most recent story arcs in the comics, he floated a number of ideas. However, he also shows an angle of perhaps practicality where he knows the character might cast a different actor. In his words:

There are so many places you can go because in the comics he became an Avenger and he’s now the All-Rider, which is pretty awesome when you think about it. He’s become quite an important piece in Marvel publishing so if he were to appear again, he absolutely deserves it. Whether it’s me or not.

Do you think that there is a chance for Ghost Rider to finally enter the MCU? Would they still consider Gabriel Luna to portray the role? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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