Norman Reedus To Play A Major Marvel Character?
Norman Reedus wants in on the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a specific character and frankly, it would be a perfect casting.
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Norman Reedus has played a borderline iconic character over the years on a popular series and even had a chance to show off his skills on a motorcycle. The dude has played something of a vigilante as well and all of that could serve him well in a role he’s actively angling for. In a recent Comicbook.com interview, Reedus was clear and direct about a character he wants to play, and that would be Ghost Rider in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Norman Reedus didn’t mix words when it came to wanting the role, telling host Brandon Davis unequivocally “I want to play Ghost Rider.” That doesn’t leave much in the way of doubt for Reedus in terms of wanting to play the character, and it’s easy to see where he thinks his skill set would line up for the role. He elaborated a little more on the desire, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, when he said, “I want a fire skull. I want my face to turn into a fire skull and whip a chain around. That would be great. I got 12 (motorcycles). I’d just pick one…”
While this is far from a solid source of casting, Norman Reedus is simply saying he would welcome the opportunity, it would make sense on a lot of different levels. Reedus clearly has the look of Johnny Blaze (if this was the Marvel iteration they were going to use) and has the acting chops to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe for sure. The guy has been playing a hardcore, no-nonsense guy in Daryl Dixon through 10 seasons on The Walking Dead with one more to come and a movie as well. There are even plans for him to get his own spin-off series from the show.
Meanwhile, while we do know that Ghost Rider is eventually coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the *when* around that is a little less clear. Norman Reedus might have some inside knowledge about that, though it appears from his comments that he might not have been formally approached. The Robbie Reyes version of the character appeared on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC, but it doesn’t look like there are plans to carry him over into the larger franchise now.
And of course, there was the Nicolas Cage version of Johnny Blaze in the first movie Ghost Rider and the follow-up Spirit of Vengeance. There are no plans, of course, for him to reprise that role, but Norman Reedus could bring a similar vibe to the character with a little less in terms of comedic overtones. Heck, we already know the dude has some practice on the motorcycle.
Early rumors had it that Ghost Rider would make his first appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness though there was some thought it would be only a reference to the character or even a silhouette. That would mean Marvel wouldn’t have needed any kind of firm casting yet even to introduce the character. In that way, Reedus could always be in the running. In the meantime, The Walking Dead is set to begin its 11th and final, season on August 22nd.
