Could the Spirit of Vengeance finally blaze back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe? A surprising crossover pitch involving Scarlet Witch might be exactly what fans didn’t know they needed.
Marvel Studios has been moving at full throttle with new characters, spin-offs, and crossover events. But somehow, one of the most visually arresting and thematically rich antiheroes in Marvel’s catalog — Ghost Rider — has been left idling on the sidelines. That may be changing soon. And if the rumors of a Scarlet Witch solo film are true, it could offer a fiery stage for his return.
The Last Time We Saw Them…
Scarlet Witch — a.k.a. Wanda Maximoff — last appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, in which she fully embraced her darker instincts. Her descent into villainy was sudden, shocking, and steeped in grief. Using the Darkhold’s forbidden magic, she tore through the multiverse with a ferocity that left a trail of bodies and broken realities.
But her end? Ambiguous at best. A collapsing temple doesn’t mean much in the MCU — where “dead” characters have a way of crawling back with new purpose.
Meanwhile, Ghost Rider’s cinematic absence has been deafening. The last time he roared onto screens was over a decade ago, in 2012’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, with Nicolas Cage chewing scenery like no one else can. Say what you want about the quality — those movies had style. And heart. And flaming skulls.
On the small screen, Gabriel Luna brought a different version of the Rider (Robbie Reyes) to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but the show’s shaky connection to MCU canon has made that version unofficial in many fans’ eyes.
So, what gives? Why hasn’t Marvel reintroduced one of its most iconic antiheroes?
Pairing Fire With Fire: Why Wanda and Ghost Rider Make Sense
If Wanda does return in a standalone movie, her character arc is going to need more than another redemption storyline. She’s already been redeemed once — or tried to be — and audiences might not buy it again without serious stakes.
Enter Ghost Rider.
Wanda, emotionally battered and magically depleted, wakes in another reality after barely escaping death. She wants peace, solitude. But peace doesn’t want her. Ghost Rider finds her — not out of personal vendetta, but because that’s what he does. He avenges. He burns those who’ve spilled innocent blood.
The matchup isn’t just visually exciting — it’s narratively rich. You’ve got one character who’s been corrupted by grief, seeking atonement, and another who sees the world in absolutes: sin and punishment.
It Doesn’t Have to Be a Cameo
Let’s be real — the MCU has a cameo problem. New heroes pop up for five seconds in multiverse chaos, and then we forget they were even there. A Ghost Rider debut squeezed into Avengers: Secret Wars or Doomsday would be a disservice.
Instead, placing him in a Scarlet Witch solo film gives him room to breathe. To haunt. To chase. To terrify.
A properly built introduction would:
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Establish Ghost Rider’s origin and current form (Johnny Blaze? Danny Ketch? Robbie Reyes again?).
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Explain his place in the MCU’s supernatural ecosystem.
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Set the tone for future darker projects like Blade and the rumored Midnight Sons.
Wanda doesn’t even need to be the villain. In this version, Ghost Rider’s judgment is the threat — an unstoppable hunter akin to a magical Terminator, forcing her to confront the sins she tried to bury.
Marvel’s Next Horror Frontier
There’s a deeper reason why this pitch matters: Marvel is slowly carving out a horror corner. Doctor Strange 2 hinted at it. Werewolf by Night cemented it. And Blade, if it ever finishes filming, will be a blood-soaked addition.
Ghost Rider fits that mold like a flaming glove.
And Wanda? Her descent into the abyss, fuelled by ancient magic, fits too. A movie that leans into paranoia, supernatural guilt, and moral ambiguity could be one of the most visually and emotionally intense MCU projects yet.
Here’s a quick comparison of recent MCU projects and how they treat darker themes:
| MCU Project | Horror/Supernatural Elements | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor Strange 2 | Darkhold, body horror, demons | Psychological Thriller |
| Moon Knight | Egyptian gods, multiple identities | Gritty/Mind-Bending |
| Werewolf by Night (special) | Black-and-white monster hunting | Classic Horror |
| WandaVision (early episodes) | Reality-bending grief and denial | Surreal/Sitcom Horror |
Casting the Flame
One of the biggest questions still burns bright: Who should play Ghost Rider?
Nicolas Cage has said he’s open to returning — and honestly, wouldn’t that be insane fun? But Marvel may want a fresh face. The most popular fan-fancast right now? Ryan Gosling.
He’s expressed interest. Kevin Feige has acknowledged him. And let’s be honest: Gosling in a leather jacket, blazing skull under moonlight, slow-walking out of the fire? It sells itself.
Other potential names have surfaced too: Norman Reedus, Keanu Reeves, even Pedro Pascal. But nothing’s confirmed. Just yet.
Still, it feels like something is cooking. If not in Scarlet Witch’s solo outing, then maybe Midnight Sons will finally pull the trigger on the Rider’s long-overdue return.
Marvel Needs To Treat Him Like a Force of Nature
In animation, Ghost Rider’s most iconic moment arguably came in Fantastic Four: The Animated Series, where he briefly appears to help defeat Galactus — yes, that Galactus — with his penance stare. It was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo, but fans still talk about it. Why? Because he was treated like a nuclear weapon. Not just another guy with powers.
That’s the way forward.
The MCU doesn’t need to reinvent Ghost Rider. It just needs to respect him.
A tortured soul. A flaming nightmare. A cosmic judge. Someone who doesn’t care about multiverse variants or Council meetings. He just shows up when things get ugly — and leaves ashes behind.
