Nicolas Cage Responds To Doctor Strange 2 Ghost Rider Cameo Rumors
Nicolas Cage responds to rumors about Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness including a cameo from his Ghost Rider. After building a carefully constructed universe for more than a decade, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is expanding its reach in Phase 4. The multiverse has been opened, allowing past actors to return in MCU movies, such as Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Marvel has since revealed that Doctor Strange 2 will also pull off some surprise cameos, as Patrick Stewart's Professor X return was heard in the latest trailer.
As a result of Doctor Strange 2's trailer teasing Professor X's appearance and the Illuminati, the rumors about who else will appear in the sequel have only continued to grow. Fans have long suspected Benedict Cumberbatch's sequel could be loaded with cameos due to its multiverse story. Stewart is so far the only prior Marvel actor not yet associated with the MCU confirmed for the movie, but rumors have long suggested that Nicolas Cage's Ghost Rider could also appear. Cage played Johnny Blaze in 2007 and 2011 as part of Sony's Ghost Rider franchise, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from connecting him to Doctor Strange 2.
Since rumors continue to swirl about the possibility of Nicolas Cage's Ghost Rider appearing in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it was only a matter of time before he addressed the speculation. As part of a large profile done by GQ, Cage was asked about the potential of him playing Johnny Blaze again. The actor denies any involvement in the MCU sequel, seemingly squashing the rumors of Ghost Rider's Doctor Strange 2 return. However, Cage is open to the idea and working with Cumberbatch should Marvel Studios come calling.
Oh, I don’t think so. I don’t think they’re casting me. I mean, I would do it. It would be fun. I’d love to work with Cumberbatch, but I don’t think that’s happening.
This isn't the first time Nicolas Cage has addressed the possibility of playing Ghost Rider again. He is quite open about his fondness for Ghost Rider as a character and would be interested in revisiting him. Although Cage was meant to return for more Ghost Rider sequels following Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, his decision to leave the franchise meant the conclusion of Sony's Marvel franchise. It also opened the door for Agents of SHIELD to use the Robbie Reyes version of Ghost Rider in 2016, as Gabriel Luna became a fan-favorite addition to the show through his performance.
Only time will tell if Cage gets his wish of playing Ghost Rider again or if he is lying about his involvement in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It is also important to remember that Cage not returning as Ghost Rider doesn't rule out the character appearing in the MCU sequel. If Ghost Rider is part of the MCU's future, Marvel Studios may have cast a new actor (or brought Luna back) instead of relying on Cage. If that has happened, though, perhaps future multiverse stories could eventually bring Cage's Johnny Blaze back into the fold, making his Ghost Rider movies part of the MCU multiverse as a result.
Source: GQ