Nicolas Cage opened up about what it would take for him to return as Ghost Rider in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Speaking during an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit, Cage responded to a question on whether he would reprise his role as Johnny Blaze if Marvel Studios asked. "I would really need to see what they had in mind before answering that," replied Cage. The actor did not respond to any other questions asking him to elaborate on what he would want from the role.
This isn't the first time Cage has openly discussed his thoughts on Ghost Rider, previously noting how fascinating he finds Johnny Blaze. "I mean, he's a complicated character," said Cage. "It's kind of like, how do you tell the story of Faust within the context of that universe? Because it's a very philosophical character. I think it makes him special from other superheroes."
Despite his love for the character, Cage has openly admitted that the critical failure of Ghost Rider and its sequel Spirit of Vengeance led to him stepping away from major Hollywood blockbusters. "I had movies like Sorcerer’s Apprentice and Ghost Rider and Drive Angry -- three in a row that didn’t work out," said Cage. "There was this marginalization that happened while I was also more interested in philosophy and meditating. So those two things happened at once." The actor elaborated that the aforementioned films led to him losing interest in going to award shows and selling himself and instead pushed him into a "life of contemplation."
While Cage may be open to reprising his hot-headed role, the actor reluctantly shot down rumors that he has a cameo in the upcoming MCU blockbuster Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While he may not be appearing in the movie, he did note that he thought it would be fun to make an appearance and would love to work with Benedict Cumberbatch.
Since Cage's potential future in the MCU remains unknown, fans have started looking for a different actor who could take over the reins of Ghost Rider. Many have suggested The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus as the MCU's Johnny Blaze, a decision that even garnered the attention of the actor himself. Reedus has shared multiple works of fan art depicting him as Ghost Rider, fanning the flames that he may eventually join the sprawling cinematic universe.
Source: Reddit
