Following confirmation that the long-rumored Ghost Rider would be making his way to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for the show’s fourth season, Marvel has just announced that actor Gabriel Luna has been cast in the role. Unfortunately, it’s unknown if the actor is joining the series as a regular or recurring actor. Still, it’s an interesting turn for the series. If you’ve been following the show since the pilot, you’ll know that the show never really tried to bring in the heroes, but rather focus on the little guys – like S.H.I.E.L.D. However, since the first season, the show has developed more into a comic book series, bringing us not only the introduction of the Inhumans into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also (albeit briefly) bringing the Secret Warriors to life on the small screen. And in doing so, the show has continually grown much darker.

The decision to bring in a character like Ghost Rider – even if it is Robbie Reyes as opposed to Johnny Blaze – is an interesting one for the series. This is the biggest name comic book hero they’ve brought in thus far, and I can only hope that they truly make use of him. Perhaps bringing him onto S.H.I.E.L.D. is their way of testing the character out for his own ABC series. After all, the ABC President did say the network was working with Marvel TV on other ideas when they didn’t pick-up Most Wanted. Maybe this is one of those.

Here’s the press release from Marvel along with a quote from Marvel Television head Jeph Loeb.

Vengeance comes to “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” this fall at 10 pm!

Gabriel Luna (“True Detective,” “Matador”) will roar into the lives of Agent Coulson and the team, as Robbie Reyes the unstoppable Ghost Rider, which was revealed today at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

“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,” said Executive Producer/Head of Marvel Television, Jeph Loeb. “When the Spirit of Vengeance rides into S.H.I.E.L.D., it’ll change everything.”

“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” is executive produced and co-created by Joss Whedon (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) and Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen, (“Dollhouse,” “Dr.Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”). Jeffrey Bell (“Angel,” “Alias”) and Jeph Loeb (“Marvel’s Jessica Jones,” “Marvel’s Daredevil”) also serve as Executive Producers. “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” is produced by Marvel Television and ABC Studios.

The fourth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will premiere on ABC on September 20th at 10 PM EST.

Source: Marvel.com