Before the advent of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), superhero films tended to be self-contained stories featuring characters that audiences may or may not have already been familiar with.
While entities like the X-Men series highlighted some of the more popular Marvel characters, there was also a smorgasbord of films based on lesser-known properties. For example, in the ten years before the debut of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, superhero films based on The Punisher, Blade, and Ghost Rider were all released.
Photo: Collider
While they would pale in comparison to the unprecedented success of the MCU, all three film series reached various levels of success.
Could We See More Pre-MCU Heroes Enter the Fold?
Following the introduction of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Men into the MCU for Spider-Man: No Way Home and the announcement that Hugh Jackman would reprise his role as Wolverine for Deadpool 3, the idea of seeing the pre-MCU superheroes on screen again suddenly seemed not just possible, but likely.
Two Spider-Men. Photo: Marvel
The Return of Ghost Rider?
Of all the pre-MCU heroes, the character most often speculated to return is Nicholas Cage’s Ghost Rider.
Nic Cage as Ghost Rider. Photo: Marvel
Cage originated the role of Johnny Blaze for 2007’s Ghost Rider. The film was derided by critics but proved to be a financial success. While a follow-up film, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, was similarly panned, the series would grow a cult following and continue to make money.
Photo: Marvel
Ever since the advent of the MCU’s multiversal saga, speculation has run rampant that Cage could reprise his role as Ghost Rider, perhaps in Avengers: Secret Wars.
Nic Cage Chimes In
While Cage has previously dismissed the idea of reprising his Ghost Rider role, in a recent interview with Uproxx, the actor seemed more open to returning.
Photo: Jun Sato/Contributor/Getty Images
Although Cage says he will act in fewer movies going forward, he revealed that he would have a tough time saying no to something that he “thought had some pop to it, some spark to it, that maybe could be fun for folks to revisit, like a Face/Off 2 or Ghost Rider.”
Photo: Marvel
The fact that Cage offered up Ghost Rider as a role that he would return to would seemingly indicate his genuine interest. With Secret Wars still on the horizon, we may soon see another pre-MCU hero enter the fold.
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