It's been a couple of years since ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. whet the appetite of Ghost Rider fans yearning to see the supernatural badass on TV, but now we'll be getting way more from the fiery comic character. Hulu has announced it's expanding its partnership with Marvel Television, and has ordered the live-action Marvel's Ghost Rider to series. What's more, one the antihero's Spirits of Vengeance cohorts will also get his own series, as Hulu announced Marvel's Helstrom is on the way as well.
Both Marvel's Ghost Rider and Marvel's Helstrom are currently being developed to debut at some point in 2020. Let's break down what we know about each project after the early announcement.
Marvel's Ghost Rider
The first Ghost Rider TV series will focus on Robbie Reyes, carrying over the same alter ego as S.H.I.E.L.D. To be expected, he's living on the Texas/Mexico border, and it sounds like he'll already be in possession of his demonic powers when the show begins. Which, in turn, sounds like the special effects team will have their work cut out for them.
When he goes full blaze and turns into Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes seeks vengeance for the innocent victims he crosses paths with. Of course, it's not the easiest thing in the world for him to control his demonic possession, as his powers sometimes seem like too much for one man to handle.
Fans definitely want to know if Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. vet Gabriel Luna will be returning to reprise the role for the new Hulu series. And while no official confirmation has been announced, Luna himself has been a tease-hound on social media. First, he posted the message "Chains a' rattlin'" on Tuesday evening, many hours ahead of Marvel and Hulu's announcement. Then, after it went public, Luna shared this:
Marvel's Ghost Rider has set Ingrid Escajeda as its showrunner, as well as an executive producer. Escajeda is known for writing and producing duties on shows such as Justified, Empire, and Sneaky Pete, among others, so she definitely knows her way around the world of heightened crime TV. Is there a way to get Walton Goggins' Boyd Crowder on here as one of the villains?
Also executive producing will be the head of Marvel Television, Jeph Loeb, and Paul Zbyszewski, who was a writer and producer on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., appropriately enough. Zbyszewski also worked on Lost, so here's hoping this new show is a sweet blend of comic book mayhem mixed with a dense mythology. (Not too dense, though.)
Marvel's Helstrom
While not nearly as well known as Ghost Rider, Helstrom comes from another dark corner of the Marvel universe. In the show, Daimon and Ana Helstrom are the offspring of a most deadly and enigmatic serial killer, and they've developed some pretty distinct skills and personality traits over the years as they try to hunt down the worst that humanity has to offer. (Spoilers: Daimon's father is Satan in the comics, so don't expect the TV show to stray too far from that.)
Helstrom, who also goes by the names Son of Satan and Hellstorm, first appeared on the comic pages in 1973, as part of Ghost Rider #1, and then became a relatively unpopular part of the Marvel Spotlight fun. The character then went on to take part in other stories, as well as his own comic series.
For this show, the aforementioned S.H.I.E.L.D. and Lost vet Paul Zbyszewski will be serving as showrunner and executive producer. Jeph Loeb, naturally, will also be on board as an EP.
These shows are the sixth and seventh new Marvel projects that Hulu has ordered up after first teaming with Marvel on the energetic drama Runaways. The animated slate of projects includes Howard the Duck, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K., Tigra & Dazzler Show, Hit-Monkey and the culmination special The Offenders.
While no release date has been set just yet, expect to find Marvel's Ghost Rider and Marvel's Helstrom hitting Hulu in 2020.
