Marvel: Barnes joins The Punisher, SHIELD’s Ghost Rider revealed

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is starting to drift into Arrow in the Head territory with some of its latest projects, starting with the November 4 arrival of Sorcerer Supreme DOCTOR STRANGE on the big screen. Looking ahead, there are some Arrow-friendly Marvel characters coming to the small screen as well.

Having made his debut as the character Frank Castle / The Punisher on the second season of the Netflix show Daredevil, Jon Bernthal will be heading up his own Netflix Punisher series, and while that show doesn't have a premiere date scheduled yet, Bernthal does have his first co-star: Ben Barnes (pictured above) has signed on to be a series regular on The Punisher.

Details on Barnes' character have not been revealed. TV Line notes that they've heard he's rumored to be playing Bobby Saint, but that rumor should be taken with a massive grain of salt – Bobby Saint is a character who only exists in the 2004 film version of THE PUNISHER, and it's his death at the beginning of the movie that leads to all the deaths that follow. There's really no reason to bring Bobby Saint into the MCU.

Another new addition to the MCU is Ghost Rider, the top comic book hero of my childhood, who will be making his debut on the ABC series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I'm very hyped for this, even though it's an iteration of the character who was only recently introduced in the comics: Gabriel Luna will be playing new Ghost Rider Robbie Reyes, who drives a 1969 Dodge Charger rather than a motorcycle.

Pictures have made their way online that show Luna in Reyes' human form and in full, fiery Ghost Rider mode.

The fourth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. begins airing on ABC Tuesday, September 20th at 10pm EST.