Ghost Rider's debut in the MCU's What If...? season 3 may have provided the perfect opportunity to bring Keanu Reeves into the franchise in his dream role. The ending of What If...? season 3 wrapped up the multiversal story, complete with cameos from variants from other universes in the vast Marvel franchise. What If...? season 3's multiversal cameos were aplenty in the final episode, showcasing cool variants such as a Thanos and Wolverine hybrid to Spider-Man and a Hulk Sorcerer Supreme.
One of the other cameos found in the ending of What If...? season 3 was Ghost Rider, a character many have hoped will be included in upcoming Marvel movies. That said, the Marvel movies releasing in 2025 are set in stone, with Captain America: Brave New World, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and Thunderbolts* being the only theatrical movies that year. This means that Ghost Rider will not appear again anytime soon. Nonetheless, his appearance in What If...? season 3 still gives Marvel a massive opportunity to give Keanu Reeves his dream role in the MCU.
Keanu Reeves Wanted To Play Ghost Rider
It Has Been A Dream Role Of Reeves'
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Firstly, it is worth exploring the connection between Keanu Reeves and Ghost Rider. Given that Reeves is one of the more iconic and recognizable actors in modern Hollywood, fans have long speculated about a role for him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The theories have been common for years, with several characters from the vast Marvel Comics collection being raised as potential superheroes for Reeves to play. However, one character has been raised more often than others, even by Reeves himself.
That character is Johnny Blaze, the most prominent variant of Ghost Rider from Marvel Comics. For years, Reeves has insisted that Johnny Blaze is a dream role of his and that he has longed to play the character since he was a child. Naturally, this has caused a lot of discussion among the MCU fanbase, with theories being crafted about which projects Reeves could first appear as Ghost Rider. Evidently, Reeves would not be opposed to this, with What If...? potentially opening the door for it to happen.
Ghost Rider Has Finally Appeared In An MCU Release
As alluded to, Ghost Rider finally debuted in an MCU project. While Ghost Rider has appeared in Agents of SHIELD, it is unclear whether that show is currently canon to the MCU. The possibilities of the multiverse insist it is, but What If...? is a show produced specifically by Marvel Studios under the Marvel Animation banner. Therefore, What If...? season 3 is the first official MCU appearance of a Ghost Rider variant. This appearance comes in the final montage of What If...? season 3, episode 8.
As Uatu, the Watcher, is taking viewers and What If...?'s Guardians of the Multiverse through the vast realities, a version of Ghost Rider can be spotted. This version is devoid of the iconic motorbike synonymous with Marvel Comics' design, instead showing a samurai iteration of the character. Thanks to the entire premise of What If...?, a possible reality was imagined in which the Spirit of Vengeance overcame a warrior from ancient Japan. Via this small glimpse, it has been confirmed that a samurai Ghost Rider exists somewhere across the MCU's multiverse.
Several MCU actors did not reprise their roles to voice variants of their characters in What If...? season 3, even though many did choose to return.
Theoretically, this means that the samurai Ghost Rider could return in the MCU's future. With the next two Avengers movies set to focus intently on the multiverse and the combining of several universes in Secret Wars, this iteration of Ghost Rider could be involved. With this in mind, Keanu Reeves could be cast as this version of the character to give him his dream Marvel role once and for all.
A Samurai Ghost Rider Could Honor Keanu Reeves' Martial Arts Background
Reeves' History Fits This Version Of Ghost Rider
Although the regular, Johnny Blaze variant of Ghost Rider has often been raised as perfect for Reeves, the samurai version shown in What If...? season 3 could be even more perfect for the actor. This is due to the way in which it would suit Reeves' background, specifically how committed he is to his roles. When playing a samurai in 47 Ronin, Reeves studied Bushido, the moral code of the ancient samurai.
Not only that but Reeves' martial prowess and decades of performing his own fight scenes and stunts would allow him to convey a samurai's skill set perfectly...
Thanks to this, Reeves will already have a strong grasp of what it is like to portray a samurai on screen. Not only that but Reeves' martial prowess and decades of performing his own fight scenes and stunts would allow him to convey a samurai's skill set perfectly. If this was combined with the Spirit of Vengeance in the future of the MCU, one of What If...?'s most exciting, intriguing multiversal possibilities could come to life with its perfect actor.
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What If… ? is an animated anthology series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which features fan-favorite characters, including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor, and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer, features signature MCU action with a curious twist. The show sees Uatu the Watcher, an omnipotent being that observes the events of multiple universes from afar as they unfold, unable to interfere. However, things shift when an entity peers beyond the veil, jeopardizing the multiverse.
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