Agents of SHIELD Ghost Rider Gabriel Luna

Unlike the Marvel/Netflix panel the other night, the ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ presentation at San Diego Comic-Con didn’t have any new footage to show off because filming on the fourth season has just begun. However, Marvel Television Head Jeph Loeb, executive producers Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tanchareon, and Jeffrey Bell, and stars Clark Gregg, Chloe Bennett, Ming-Na Wen, Henry Simmons, Elizabeth Henstridge, and Ian De Caestecker did bring news of a major new addition to the cast.

Following the ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ panel on Friday evening, Marvel.com shared the news that Ghost Rider is coming to the acclaimed ABC superhero drama. But rather than the Johnny Blaze version made famous (or infamous) by Nic Cage, the show will introduce the Robbie Reyes incarnation of the Spirit of Vengeance to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The young mechanic and street racer imbued with the powers of a demonic spirit will be played by ‘Wicked City’ and ‘True Detective’ star Gabriel Luna. And speaking of Robbie’s fast and furious ways, not only did the House of Ideas bring this massive news to SDCC, they also enlisted the cast to unveil Ghost Rider’s souped-up car dubbed the Hell Charger:

This news comes hot on the tail of recent rumors that stated Ghost Rider would be coming to the show. They were fueled by advertisements around San Diego for ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ featuring the rider’s trademark flaming chain. Marvel had many people fooled as they assumed that the weapon belonged to Hellfire, an Inhuman introduced last season that also utilizes a flaming chain. But with the film and TV rights to the character reverting back to Marvel not too long ago, it turns out that the company will take full advantage of having Ghost Rider back in their stable of heroes by, according to Loeb, giving us the biggest season of the series to date:

“Season 4 will unquestionably be the series’ biggest, most ambitious story yet, and it all begins with the introduction of one of our greatest legacy characters in Ghost Rider. When the Spirit of Vengeance rides into S.H.I.E.L.D., it’ll change everything.”

Finally, it’s important to note that Reyes’ story doesn’t undo the existence of Johnny Blaze. Though he may not be in the picture right now, it’s very possible that we may see the most popular hero to take up the Ghost Rider mantle somewhere else in the MCU somewhere down the line. But for now, it will be very cool to see how Robbie Reyes affects Agent Coulson and company when ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ returns on September 20, 2016 at 10:00pm.

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