'The Walking Dead' Actor Norman Reedus Has His 'Fingers Crossed' to Play Ghost Rider in the MCU

The Walking Dead actor Norman Reedus, who plays Daryl Dixon, has turned into the focus of the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe rumors. While some fans suggested Keanu Reeves play Ghost Rider, Norman Reedus became the new rumored frontrunner. Reedus himself responded to the murmurs about playing Johnny Blaze, saying he has his “fingers crossed.”

‘The Walking Dead’ actor Norman Reedus said ‘the Ghost Rider conversation has been coming up for years’

Nicholas Cage played Johnny Blaze in the first live-action Ghost Rider movie in 2007. The character made the jump to Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD, played by Gabriel Luna. However, after Marvel dubbed the ABC show non-canon, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was left without a Ghost Rider once more.

Many fans voted for Keanu Reeves to play Ghost Rider or X-Men hero Gambit.

However, after The Walking Dead Season 11 wrapped up filming, some fans thought a Reedus might take on a new project at Marvel as the Spirit of Vengeance motorcyclist.

“The Ghost Rider conversation has been coming up for years, and yeah, tell them to put me in it,” Reedus told ComicBook.com in July 2021. “I want to play Ghost Rider.”

Ghost Rider was created by writer Gary Friedrich, Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Roy Thomas, and artist Mike Ploog, with Stan Lee suggesting the name Johnny Blaze.

‘The Walking Dead’ actor Norman Reedus addressed the Ghost Rider rumors again

Death Stranding voice actor Norman Reedus already has some ideas for playing the antihero. After a literal deal with the Devil (later revealed in Marvel Comics to be Mephisto, a name floating around early Spider-Man: No Way Home rumors), he became a sort of demon bounty hunter.

“I want a fire skull,” Reedus continued. “I want my face to turn into a fire skull and whip a chain around. That would be great.”

In a more recent interview, Reedus addressed the rumors again. With Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Spider-Man: No Way Home, played by Charlie Cox, Ghost Rider could tap into his hidden origins when he was almost made a villain for the Man Without Fear.

“Fingers crossed,” Reedus told ComicBook.com. “I don’t know. There’s been a lot of talk over the last couple years. I do not have an answer for you.”

While fans have high hopes, it seems that they might have to wait a bit longer before the antihero returns to the big screen for the first time since Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in 2012.

The ‘Death Stranding’ voice actor is already a motorcycle enthusiast

The Daryl Dixon actor already has something in common with Ghost Rider: a love for motorcycles. He said he could even bring his own to set if he played the Marvel Comics character.

“I got 12 [motorcycles]. I’d just pick one,” Reedus said to ComicBook.com. “I’ll do it, yeah.”

A Walking Dead co-star, Lauren Ridloff, made the jump to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Eternals.

Several other Walking Dead actors have starred in the Marvel movies, and Disney+ shows, like Michael Rooker as Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy and Danai Gurira as General Okoye of Wakanda in Black Panther.

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