'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D' at San Diego Comic-Con 2016: Ghost Rider Will Debut in Live-Action TV Via Show's Season 4 [VIDEO]; Release Date & Episode Details
A new version of a popular Marvel antihero is set to appear for the first time in live-action television. "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." showrunners announced at the San Diego Comic-Con 2016 that Ghost Rider will make an avenging debut in the Season 4 of ABC's superhero drama series.
Ghost Rider is The New Character to Look Forward to
"Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" producers Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen revealed that American actor Gabriel Luna, who is known for his lead roles in El Rey Network's "Matador" and ABC's "Wicked City," will join the ensemble cast as the Ghost Rider named Roberto "Robbie" Reyes.
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Along with the announcement, the panel teased the audience about the incoming character by presenting a short clip that showed a burning skull with the catchphrase, "Vengeance comes this fall."
"With Doctor Strange coming out this year, the Marvel Universe is moving into new waters," Whedon told EW. "We felt that this was obviously a great character that we'd love to have on our show that we feel fits with that shift."
In a news release, executive producer and head of Marvel television Jeph Loeb said that the incoming season is the biggest installment of the series with the most ambitious story. "When the Spirit of Vengeance rides into S.H.I.E.L.D, it'll change everything," he stated.
A New Version of Ghost Rider
This marks the first time that Ghost Rider will be adapted in a television series. Nicolas Cage is popularly known for portraying as Ghost Rider in two Marvel films. He started playing Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcyclist, in 2007's "Ghost Rider" and reprised the role in 2012's sequel "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance."
There were several people who turned Ghost Rider at different times in the Marvel comics. According to the "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" producers, the TV version of Ghost Rider will be different from Cage's role.
"Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" will feature the latest iteration of the character, a Ghost Rider who rides a muscle car. According to ComicBook.com, unlike Blaze who was taken over by a Spirit of Vengeance, Reyes is a high school student who was possessed by a Satanic serial killer after a tragic street race.
Tancharoen shared that they decided to pick Reyes' version of Ghost Rider because he is a newer comic. She also added that Reyes has an interesting background that is perfect for "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Things are a little different with Robbie. There will be a little mixing and matching," Whedon teased.
Marvel's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." Season 4 will premiere Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 10 p.m. on ABC.
