Hulu hearts Marvel: ‘Ghost Rider’ and ‘Helstrom’

While Netflix is busy getting out of the Marvel business, Hulu is happily getting further in. The streaming giant announced in May they’re furthering their partnership and welcoming The Spirits of Vengeance to their platform.

Marvel Television is set to welcome two new live-action series to Hulu from a unique corner of the Marvel universe. In 2020 we can expect the beloved (and pretty dark) Ghost Rider and similarly badass Helstrom in TV format.

Everything you need to know about Ghost Rider

Marvel’s Ghost Rider (or Robbie Reyes if you’re nasty) is one of the most referenced antiheroes of the Marvel universe. The way he got so badass was being consumed by hellfire and supernaturally bound to a demon.

Living in a border town in Texas, Reyes gets plenty of opportunity to unleash the demon within (The Rider) and seek vengeance for the innocent people he wishes to protect. As with all powerful Marvel characters, Robbie struggles to keep his power under control – so we can expect some carnage mixed with dusty desert longshots and flaming motorcycles, Lana Del Ray “Ride”-style.

So far we know Ghost Rider is executive-produced by Ingrid Escajeda (who will be  serving as the showrunner), Paul Zbyszewski, and Marvel’s Jeph Loeb.

Ghost Rider has seen a live adaptation before. In 2007, Nicolas Cage starred as the Johnny Blaze version of the titular antihero, but he was last seen in 2016 on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. This depiction, played by Gabriel Luna, was more similar to the Robbie Reyes iteration of the character. According to Variety, Gabriel Luna will be reprising the Ghost Rider role.

No word yet on whether or not the S.H.I.E.L.D. version of Ghost Rider will be associated with the new Hulu series.

Everything you need to know about Helstrom

Daimon and Ana Helstrom are the son and daughter of a mysterious, powerful serial killer in Marvel’s Helstrom. The siblings have a complicated dynamic as they track down the terrorizing worst of humanity, each possessing unique attitude and skills. Helstrom is executive produced by Paul Zbyszewski (who will serve as showrunner) and Marvel’s Jeph Loeb as well.

So far there has been no word from Hulu or Marvel relating to the spelling change from Hellstrom to Helstrom (with a singular L) – we’re guessing it’s deliberate and not just a company-wide typo. ?

We’re predicting Helstrom is based on the original Marvel comic book character Daimon Hellstrom, who also goes by Hellstorm and Son of Satan. He was part of the Ghost Rider team before he got his own comic book series, fittingly named Son of Satan.

Half-human, half-demon Daimon is pretty powerful, boasting numerous supernatural abilities including jumping between hell & earth like it’s no big deal. The comic book version of Daimon has a sister called Satana, called Ana in the show.

Helstrom (Hellstrom) and Ghost Rider live in the same world, so it makes perfect sense these shows would get greenlit together. We’re hoping to see a crossover with Marvel’s Runaways too.

—

Both shows are co-produced with Marvel Television and ABC Signature Studios and join the existing Marvel-Hulu slate which includes: Marvel’s Runaways, MODOK, Hit-Monkey, Tigra & Dazzler Show, Howard The Duck, and The Offenders.