Will Keanu Reeves Make His Debut in the MCU as Johnny Blaze in ‘Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness?
Keanu Reeves might be making his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe sooner than anyone expected. After years of trying to find the perfect role for the John Wick star, inside sources claim that Marvel president Kevin Feige wants Reeves to play Johnny Blaze, a.k.a. Ghost Rider. A source also says that Marvel wants to introduce Reeves’ character alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, which is set to hit theaters in 2021.
Marvel and DC fight to land Keanu Reeves
Marvel and DC have found themselves in the middle of a massive bidding war to cast Reeves for a part on the big screens. DC has reportedly been trying to persuade Reeves to reprise his role in a new Constantine film and eventually have him star in Justice League Dark.
Marvel, on the other hand, has been trying to find a good role for Reeves. In previous interviews, Feige has admitted that he talks to Reeves whenever a new project surfaces but has yet to find the ideal match.
Keanu Reeves, of course, has remained busy while DC and Marvel fight over him. Last year, the actor starred in several high-profile films, including John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum and Toy Story 4.
While the studios fight over Reeves, an inside source claims that Feige and his team have finally found the perfect role for Reeves in Johnny Blaze.
Will Reeves cameo in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’?
A source told We Got This Covered that Marvel is in talks with Reeves to play Johnny Blaze’s version of Ghost Rider. The studio wants to give Reeves his own standalone movie, but not before introducing him in another project.
With that in mind, the insider claims that Reeves will portray Johnny Blaze in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. We have no idea how Johnny Blaze will fit into Strange’s storyline, but the insider believes his role will be minimal.
Marvel has not said anything about introducing Keanu Reeves in Doctor Strange 2 and likely won’t until the movie hits theaters.
Without official confirmation, it is difficult to say if the rumors about Reeves are true. The actor has been linked to several projects in the past, and this would not be the first to turn out to be untrue.
What would Keanu Reeves look like as Ghost Rider
While we wait to hear something official, some fan art offers a glimpse at what Reeves might look like as Ghost Rider. The art includes some cover shots of Reeves as Ghost Rider sitting on his motorcycle.
The art is pretty convincing, though it is safe to say that Marvel will be tweaking the character to fit into the current aesthetic of the MCU as much as possible.
Prior to Keanu Reeves, Nicholas Cage played Johnny Blaze in two films produced by Sony. Marvel bought the rights to the character in 2013, though it has yet to do anything with the franchise — at least on the big screens.
A few years ago, Gabriel Luna played the character in season 4 of Agents of SHIELD. While Cage’s version of the character was largely panned, fans seemed to enjoy Luna’s portrayal of the Ghost Rider, who was actually Robbie Reyes instead of Johnny Blaze.
What about those villain rumors?
Apart from Jonny Blaze, there were earlier rumors that Keanu Reeves was set to play the main villain in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
According to We Got This Covered, a source claimed that Marvel wants Reeves to play the role of Nightmare in the film. Sources had previously linked David Tennant and Matt Smith to the part as well.
We do not know for sure that Nightmare is going to be in the movie, but his involvement makes sense considering the storyline.
Keanu Reeves has not commented on the rumors surrounding his introduction to the MCU. The actor is currently gearing up for the premiere of Bill & Ted Face the Music and is also filming The Matrix 4.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is scheduled to open in theaters on May 7, 2021.
