Before ‘Iron Man’ launched in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2008, actor Nicolas Cage (It Could Happen to You) geared up as a flaming skull anti-hero Johnny Blaze in ‘Ghost Rider’ from Columbia Pictures. Though the film was followed by a 2011 sequel ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance’ before the rights to the character back to Marvel Studios in 2013.
Ghost Rider has largely been absent in the MCU films and some fans hoping Cage would return, but the ‘Con Air’ actor does not seem eager to return to the leather and chains.
“I’ve gotta be nice about Marvel movies, because I named myself after a Stan Lee character named Luke Cage. What am I going to do, put Marvel movies down? Stan Lee is my surrealistic father. He named me,” he told Variety in an interview. “I understand what the frustration is. I get it. But I think there’s plenty of room for everybody. I’m seeing movies like ‘Tár.’ I’m seeing all kinds of artistic and independently driven movies. I think there’s plenty of room for everybody.”
He added, “I don’t need to be in the MCU. I’m Nic Cage.”
Cage made the comments shortly after winning the Variety Legend & Groundbreaker Award at the Miami Film Festival.
There was a planned sequel to the 2011 film, but Cage ultimately passed on it, prompting Columbia Pictures to allow Disney to acquire the rights after their purchase of Marvel Entertainment.
‘Terminator: Dark Fate’ actor Gabriel Lune portrayed the Johnny Blaze successor Robbie Reyes in the MCU spin-off television series ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’
The Johnny Blaze version of the Ghost Rider first appeared in 1975 in the pages of Marvel Spotlight. He was created by comic book editor Roy Thomas, writer Gary Friedrich, and artist Mike Ploog.
Den of Geek rated Johnny Blaze number 5 on their 2015 list of Marvel Comics’ monster characters.
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