Zack Snyder is one of the most buzzworthy filmmakers of the moment thanks to the success ofArmy of the Deadand his cut ofJustice League. The director is no stranger to adaptations of comic book properties, having also directed300,Watchmen, andBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice—so it’s no surprise that fans would speculate his involvement in a rumoredGhost Riderreboot forMarvel Studios.
Ghost Riderhas been a mainstay in Marvel Comics since his first appearance in 1972. In the comics, the anti-hero was first a motorcyclist named Johnny Blaze who sold his soul to save his father, in turn having his body consumed by hellfire and his head morphed into a flaming skull whenever it’s night or when evil is present. The story of Ghost Rider was previously adapted into two Nicolas Cage-starring feature films by Sony Pictures before the rights to the character reverted back to Disney and Marvel Studios.The Ghost Ridercharacterhas not been adapted for film and television since, aside from a brief stint onAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but he has enjoyed frequent appearances in recent comics and video games.
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During an interview with Youtuber Tyrone Magnus, Snyder officially debunked a rumor that he would helm aGhost Riderreboot for Marvel Studios, stating that he isn’t involved in the project. During the interview, Snyder clarified that while he does like Marvel, him working onGhost Rideris not a done deal. The interview with Magnus also offered other tidbits of information, including that Snyder is a fan of Iron Man and The Hulk, and that if the circumstances were right, Snyder would be willing to direct an adaptation of ananime such asDragonBall.
The prospect of Snyder directing aGhost Riderfilm is a fascinating one. The director not only specializes in comic book adaptations but also possesses a knack for dark, brooding, and thematically weighty subject matter—aGhost Riderfilm could have all three of those qualities if Snyder were given the freedom to implement those elements.
For now, Snyder’s next ventures includeArmy of Thieves, which isa prequel toArmy of the Deadthat Snyder produced and co-wrote, as well as a potential adaptation of Ayn Rand’sThe Fountainhead. Safe to say, fans of Snyder will not be starved of projects involving him for much longer.
As for Ghost Rider himself? A potential feature film reboot would likely be welcomed by fans of the character, especially sinceaGhost Riderseriesoriginally slated for Hulu was eventually canceled by Marvel. Whether or not actor Gabriel Luna, who portrayed the character inAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D., would return to the role for newGhost Riderfilm is another question altogether.
