There's Already A Ghost Rider In The MCU (The Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D Connection, Explained)
Contrary to popular belief, there’s already a Ghost Rider in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It’s not Nicolas Cage’s version of Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider, which originated in Ghost Rider (2007). He also starred in the sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011). However, those movies exist outside of the MCU—or, as we know it for now, Earth 616. After that, starting in 2016, the supremely underrated Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D (2013) introduced Ghost Rider through a rather short but impactful arc with Roberto “Robbie” Reyes (Gabriel Luna).
Thanks to Daredevil: Born Again (2025) Season 2, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and, therefore, Gabriel Luna’s Robbie Reyes/Ghost Rider are a part of the MCU. I know there are a ton of conflicting points about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D being a canon part of the MCU. There’s even one in Ghost Rider's story. (If he helped S.H.I.E.L.D get rid of the Darkhold, how does it end up with Agatha and then Wanda?) However, as someone who loves this show, I’m going to explain away the point of contention and accept whatever loophole that makes it all work. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Ghost Rider Already Exists in ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D’
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D introduced Roberto “Robbie” Reyes in its Ghost Rider-centric Season 4 arc. I remember the character’s introduction being a big part of the season’s marketing campaign. Luna played the part in nine of the 22 episodes. One of which provides flashbacks of how Johnny Blaze—not seen in his human form—passes the Spirit of Vengeance to Robbie. It happens after Johnny revives Robbie after he died in a car accident that also caused his brother Gabriel (Lorenzo James Henrie) to become paraplegic. Robbie describes feeling and seeing nothing in death but hearing a voice that could offer him a second chance—and revenge.
Biasedly, I like how Robbie connects with Daisy/Quake (Chloe Bennett) in Season 4. Their scenes in the season premiere still stand out to me as setting the tone for both characters. Daisy confronts Robbie about his actions, saying that it’s not up to him to decide who lives or dies. Chillingly, Robbie responds that it’s not him who’s making the decision. Just a few seconds later, when Ghost Rider has the chance to kill Daisy, she encourages it. She blames herself for her boyfriend Lincoln's (Luke Mitchell) death. It’s a painful mirror of her guilt and a vulnerable reflection of herself that she tells Ghost Rider to hold her accountable. However, Ghost Rider can see her faultless soul, so he walks away, leaving Daisy to live with the guilt.
The distinction that Robbie makes encapsulates the conflict between the person and the Spirit of Vengeance that lives in their body. That internal push and pull is there with Gabe’s uncle Eli (José Zúñiga), who Ghost Rider must punish by the end of the arc. On the other side of the coin, that tension is present when Gabriel tries (and succeeds) to reach his brother underneath Ghost Rider and the immensely powerful Spirit of Vengeance. Spending significant time with the character in long-form storytelling, even over nine episodes, really helped those beats land. It also has so much to do with Luna’s excellent performance. I’m already curious to see how Ghost Rider navigates all of this with the incarnation of the character that it chooses.
Who Is Ryan Gosling’s Ghost Rider?
It is still way too early to know which incarnation of the titular character Gosling is playing in Ghost Rider (2028). There are already plenty of rumors flying around. I imagine that will continue even after there is official information out there about the movie. For now, all we know is that a very passionate Ryan Gosling will lead the movie directed by Shawn Levy. More recently, Jonathan Tropper is reportedly attached to write the script. Otherwise, there is no news about which version of the character Gosling will play from Marvel Studios or anyone involved.
There are at least 40 versions of Ghost Rider in the source material. The MCU has plenty of options in its arsenal. I can’t imagine that Gosling will be playing a teenage Danny Ketch. Perhaps Ghost Rider will bypass an origin story there to jump to Danny in adulthood. Then again, the movie could put its own spin on the best-known incarnation: the motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze. Other than Cage, that character hasn’t been explored on screen in live action.
No matter who Gosling plays, I really hope the character acknowledges Gabriel Luna’s Robbie Reyes. It would be a shame not to keep that character and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D in the mix. It held up such a dynamic and fun corner of the universe for seven seasons of TV. That’s impressive! Then again, I guess we have to wait to see if and how Avengers: Secret Wars (2027) adjusts the existing timelines. In the meantime, I hope the news about Ghost Rider gets more people to revisit Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D because I will always appreciate that show getting more love.
