Doomsday Is The Wrong Film For Ghost Rider’s MCU Debut

Avengers: Doomsday is set to be one of Marvel Studios’ biggest-ever movies when it releases in 2026, and fans’ expectations are certainly high. Any time the Avengers tag is slapped onto a film, audiences expect the biggest names possible, and there have been plenty attached to Avengers: Doomsday so far.

While nothing is confirmed regarding the entire Avengers: Doomsday cast, several characters are rumored to be involved. Some of them are familiar faces to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while others haven’t been seen before in this timeline, which could create an interesting situation.

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Could Ghost Rider Be In Avengers: Doomsday?

Ghost Rider is an iconic comic book character utterly unique from the other MCU heroes. Ghost Rider brings a level of darkness that doesn’t exist in the current universe. Therefore, the idea of him being brought into it is something that audiences actively want to see. Nicolas Cage has played the role on the big screen twice before, but the character hasn’t been seen since the 2011 film Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.

However, there is a strong possibility that Ghost Rider will debut in the MCU at some stage in the near future. It has been reported that Marvel Studios is working on ideas for how to introduce Ghost Rider, and there are plans for him to appear in a few projects over the next three years. One of those is said to be Midnight Sons, but the other is rumored to be Avengers: Doomsday. Not only is Ghost Rider set to be involved in the film, but he’s also expected to have a big role. It would be an interesting choice given that Ghost Rider hasn’t been seen in the MCU before, but the multiverse could provide an easy storyline opportunity to make that happen.

The Focus Wouldn’t Likely Be On Ghost Rider In This Movie

Avengers: Doomsday is going to be a monumental movie with a lot of focus, and while it might bring lots of eyes to Ghost Rider, it could also ensure the focus wouldn’t be on him. Considering how many characters are set to be part of the film, there’s no guarantee that Ghost Rider will get tons of focus and that’s not the best idea. While many hardcore Marvel fans know who the character is, that’s not the case for casual audiences, who make up most of the people who will watch this movie. They need to be catered to adequately, and if Ghost Rider is going to become an important part of the franchise moving forward, it will be crucial that he’s made to feel like a big deal that everyone should care about.

Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU is going to command a lot of screentime. The Fantastic Four are also set to be in the film, and as brand-new stars of the MCU, they will also need to get lots of attention. With the usual Avengers team also being involved, it seems hard to work out how Ghost Rider would be included in a meaningful manner, especially given how many cameos could be taking place via the multiverse.

Marvel Should Save Ghost Rider For A Smaller Project

Marvel has debuted characters in Avengers movies before, such as Scarlett Witch and Vision, and while they both performed well, it took a lot longer for them to get a broader focus. In fact, the smaller project of Wandavision ensured they’d be memorable characters whom audiences were desperate to see more of. That’s why debuting Ghost Rider in a slightly smaller project could be beneficial for the character. Whether that’s a Disney Plus show or an upcoming movie such as Spider-Man 4, it could guarantee that Ghost Rider would feel necessary to the plot.

Ghost Rider could enter a smaller project and instantly be made the focal point. This would ensure that all of the attention would be on him, and that’s exactly what’s needed. Avengers: Doomsday might be a cool way to bring the character out for the first time on paper, but the reality is that a smaller film would be a bigger deal for Ghost Rider. There would be more time and opportunity to showcase his powers and the backstory of the character, which is essential in development early on in a franchise as detailed and fleshed out as the MCU, where every character is fighting to win the attention of audiences.

Ghost Rider being involved in the MCU would be a real positive for the franchise, and given the direction the studios have taken recently with Daredevil: Born Again and Deadpool & Wolverine, adding the motorcycle-riding hero could be ideal right now, given the timing. However, Avengers: Doomsday doesn’t seem like the ideal place for him to make a big splash. With so much going on, there’s a lot of risk in this one when allowing him to debut in a slightly smaller film or his own solo project could ensure that Ghost Rider is given the right opportunity to build out his character.

Avengers: Doomsday

Release Date

May 1, 2026

Writers

Michael Waldron