Kevin Feige originally couldn't use Blade, Ghost Rider, or Daredevil in MCU movies

Daredevil
(Image credit: Netflix)

Marvel movies originally couldn't include Daredevil, Blade, Ghost Rider, or the Punisher, a new book has revealed.

The rights to certain Marvel characters began reverting back to the studio in the early 2010s, after they had been sold off in the '90s. While Marvel Studios, led by Kevin Feige, was keen to put such characters in the movies, Marvel Entertainment instead decided to use them for a "planned TV empire" separate from Marvel Studios, according to The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (H/T The Direct)

"The film side had no control over those characters, despite their interest in developing them," reads the book. "Instead, they all went to Marvel Entertainment. Ghost Rider appeared in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, and the others were placed in different streaming series." The decision was made because the Marvel films were already successful with the Avengers characters, and had the Guardians of the Galaxy crew on the way.

But in 2019, Feige gained total creative control over the MCU, and Marvel Studios now develops all projects. Marvel Entertainment TV shows were all canceled – and some no longer seem to be canon –  while new series like WandaVision launched on Disney Plus (with many more on the way). While there are no confirmed plans just yet for Daredevil, Ghost Rider, or the Punisher to return to the MCU, there is a Blade movie starring Mahershala Ali in development.

The next Marvel TV show to hit our screens will be Hawkeye, which lands this November 24. Until then, check out our complete guide to Marvel Phase 4 for everything else the MCU has in store for us.

Molly Edwards
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm a Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English. 

Read more
Matt and Jen in the She-Hulk: Attorney at Law finale
Daredevil: Born Again showrunner had a "very early" vision for the show, but was forced to pivot after it got in the way of "Marvel's master plan"
Spider-Man in the Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man finale
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man showrunner reveals the characters Marvel wouldn't let him use, including one of comics' most bizarre villains
Netflix's The Defenders
Marvel TV boss isn't ruling out other Defenders re-joining the MCU after Daredevil: Born Again: "It is certainly something that is creatively extremely exciting"
The Punisher holding two machine guns in the rain
Daredevil: Born Again - Learn the bullet-riddled comic book history of the Punisher before he officially joins the MCU
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Deadpool walking in front of a damaged store during the Marvel movie Deadpool and Wolverine.
There's a moment in Deadpool and Wolverine involving Spider-Man that you might have misinterpreted
Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock in Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again trailer is hiding a reference to Netflix's Marvel shows – and it may reveal what one of its heroes is up to in the MCU
Latest in Superhero Movies
Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things 4
Stranger Things star Sadie Sink joins Spider-Man 4 and fans are already theorizing she might be X-Men’s Jean Grey
The cast of Thunderbolts
Marvel fans are revealing who they'd like to see added to the Thunderbolts lineup, from Moon Knight to a major Hulk villain
Batman and Catwoman talking
Robert Pattinson is hoping to team up with his The Batman co-star Zoe Kravitz on another project soon
The cast of Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts director says the new Marvel movie is inspired by Toy Story 3: "Can they get out of the trash can together?"
Robert Downey Jr announces his Doctor Doom casting at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
"He is so dialed in": Robert Downey Jr. is coming up with backstory and costume ideas for Doctor Doom ahead of Avengers: Doomsday
Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne in The Batman
Robert Pattinson worries he will be a "f*cking old Batman" by the time filming on The Batman 2 finally starts
Latest in News
Overwatch 2
My hopes for an Overwatch anime or Diablo horror movie are going strong as Blizzard president points out "we are Blizzard Entertainment, and not simply Blizzard Games"
The New Thunderbolts leaping into action
Marvel's New Thunderbolts* comic steals the MCU's asterisk, and the reason why is just as big of a mystery
Pokemon Go players brace for the worst as Niantic is sold off for $3.5 billion: "This game is entering its death knell"
Stamp PSP
A 16-year-old pitch for a newly discovered first-party PSP game has me mourning the death of PlayStation's Japan Studio all over again
Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion actor Neil Newbon says he "got rid of" agents who deliberately kept him away from video game gigs: "They just didn't want me to do it"
Mass Effect
Jennifer Hale says she didn't see a single line as Mass Effect's Commander Shepard until it was time to record: "It was all cold reading on the spot"