Deadpool & Wolverine: Ryan Reynolds Had “Conversation” About Including Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider

Deadpool & Wolverine: Ryan Reynolds Had "Conversation" About Including Nicolas Cage's Ghost Rider

As a gamer with a heart for Marvel and a memory that can recall the tiniest of details from the early 2000s, it feels like a bittersweet nostalgia trip to learn about the scrapped Nic Cage Ghost Rider cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine. I still remember the excitement when I first saw Ghost Rider on the big screen back in 2007, and the disappointment that followed with its less-than-stellar reviews.


Deadpool & Wolverine served as a tribute to the Marvel movies that came before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman leading the way. The movie showcased beloved characters from earlier Marvel films reprising their roles, such as Chris Evans as the Human Torch (from Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer), Jennifer Garner as Elektra (from Daredevil and Elektra), and Wesley Snipes as Blade (from Blade, Blade II, and Blade: Trinity). Almost every Marvel franchise that wasn’t part of the MCU made an appearance in The Void, including projects that were stuck in development limbo. However, one character deeply entrenched in actual hell unfortunately couldn’t materialize.

Ryan Reynolds Reveals Scrapped Nic Cage Ghost Rider Cameo

Deadpool & Wolverine: Ryan Reynolds Had "Conversation" About Including Nicolas Cage's Ghost Rider

The Spirit of Vengeance could have taken a ride through The Void.

As a die-hard fan, I recently got some exciting news straight from Ryan Reynolds himself! During an exclusive chat with Collider, he let slip that there had been discussions about incorporating Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider into our favorite superhero mashup – the Deadpool and Wolverine team. Can you imagine the chaos (and awesomeness) that would ensue? I’m crossing my fingers for this one!

“Reynolds confirmed that the notion of Cage reprising Ghost Rider in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ did indeed arise during discussions. However, it didn’t ultimately materialize.”

Nicolas Cage played the role of Ghost Rider in two movies, “Ghost Rider” (2007) and “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” (2012). These films were released by Sony Pictures. The Ghost Rider series was a financial hit, with each film earning more than twice their production costs, but they did not manage to impress the critics.

In the aftermath of “Spirit of Vengeance”‘s release in 2012, whispers arose about a potential third installment of “Ghost Rider”. Directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor hinted that Nicolas Cage expressed interest, stating “Nic wants to do it.” However, Cage later confirmed he was finished with the role.

In 2013, Cage expressed, “I’ve completed my part and have no more to add at the moment. I might change my mind in the future, but for now, I can confidently say that I’ve had enough.”

It’s unclear if Nicolas Cage declined a brief appearance as Ghost Rider in Deadpool & Wolverine, or if the idea simply didn’t progress beyond initial discussions. Given his experience with another comic book movie cameo in The Flash, where he portrayed Superman from the aborted Superman Lives project, Cage might have been reluctant to take on another superhero role so soon.

As a fan, I was expected to merely exist in another realm, if you can imagine, and bear witness to the demise of the cosmos. With no dialogue to express my feelings, I had to rely on my eyes alone. True to form, I spent about three hours on set. However, when I watched the movie, it was me battling a colossal spider. Unfortunately, that wasn’t something I actually did.

Deadpool & Wolverine is now in theaters.

Read More

2024-08-05 20:40