Whatever the merits of the film might eventually turn out to be, I think this new GHOSTRIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE trailer is worth a look.
Directed by Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor. Starring Nicolas Cage, Ciarán Hinds, Idris Elba, Violante Placido, Christopher Lambert, and Johnny Whitworth.
Due out Feb. 17th from Marvel Knights, Hyde Park Entertainment and Columbia Pictures.
Tag: GHOST RIDER 2
'Ghost Rider's' Blackout Not True to Comic
Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, the directors of GHOSTRIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGENCE, admitted to MTV that they’re not exactly sticking to the spirit of the Marvel Comics that inspired the character of Blackout, played in the film by Johnny Witworth.
The character in the film will be a mortal villain who is transformed by the Devil (Ciaran Hinds) into Blackoutbook, a demonic creature with powers that “cancel out” the Ghostrider (Nicholas Cage).
In the Ghostrider comics, Blackout was a human-demon hybrid, cursed from birth. A light-sensitive albino, the character had superhuman strength and speed, and the ability to negate all light in the area around him. He had metal fangs and claws, with the implication that these were mechanical implants the product surgery at some point in his lifetime.
Co-director Brian Taylor revealed “We didn’t really honestly do a lot of research into the comic book version of Blackout… We kind of just took the visual of him and went from there.”
Well, it’s a honest admission, at least. It remains to be seen whether the decision will adversely affect the film’s box office in a significant way. Certainly, it will alienate hard-core fans.
'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance'—Pics
From Empire magazine via SuperheroHype comes these two official (one presumes) pictures from GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE.
This new Ghost Rider film takes Marvel Comics’ Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage) to Europe where he’s driven towards thwarting the plans of the Devil to become incarate.
Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (CRANK) from a story by David S. Goyer and screenplay by Scott M. Gimple and Seth HoffmanSeth Hoffman screenplay.
Also starring Ciarán Hinds, Johnny Whitworth (CSI: MIAMI) as Blackout, Idris Elba, Violante Placido, and Christopher Lambert.
Due out Feb, 17th, 2012 from Columbia Pictures Studio, the film is not a direct sequel to 2007’s GHOST RIDER, but a kind of “soft reboot”, keeping lead actor Cage, taking place “eight years later”, but more or less ignoring the details of the first film.
Shot in various Eastern European locations, notably Romania and Turkey, it remains to be seen if the relatively modest-budgeted film will find more favor with fans than the inital cinematic outing.
'Ghost Rider' Location Pics
Marvel Movies! Facebook page is featuring a gallery of picture from the GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGANCE shoot on location in Cappadocia, Turkey.
First off, is that Nicolas Cage himself in white greasepaint and motion-capture cap and jacket? Might be.
There’s plenty of pics of a mellow-looking Cage possing with Turkish oggicals visiting the location, which includes some very photogenic hills and what looks like a monastery or stronghold. Monstary might be the ticket, and the plot deals with Johnny Blaze enlisted to fight the Devil himself (Ciaran Hinds, ROME, RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN).
There’s also a shot of actors in what might monk’s robes.
One seems to have a tattooed forehead.
Whatever directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor have in mind for the screenplay by Scott M. Gimple and Seth Hoffman screenplay (from a David S. Goyer story) , GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGANCE promises to have a different vibe than it’s predecessor.
Due out February 17th, 2012 from Columbia Pictures and Hyde Park Entertainment.
'Ghost Rider 2' Gets Leaner
According to The Wrap, Sony Pictures has teamed up with Hyde Park Entertainment (PREMONITION), to cofinance and produce GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGANCE.
The 3-D sequel to 2007’s GHOST RIDER has also had it’s budget reduced to a reported $75 Million, down from an original estimate of aproximately $135 Million.
Shooting in Europe, and using the efficent directing team of Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (CRANK, GAMER) might figure into the new budget, which sounds more in line with the audience the film can be expected to attract; a very respectable showing, but not a blockbuster.
Hyde Park will have the international distrubution rights, while Sony will keep the domestic rights.
Nicolas Cage returns as hero Johnny Blaze, joined by Idris Elba, Ciaran Hinds and Placido Violante.
GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGANCE is being produced by Mike deLuca, Avi Arad and Hyde Park Entertainment’s Ashok Armitraj.
Sony Pictures has not yet commented on the report, so treat this as unconfirmed as yet.
Ghost Rider Sequel Casting
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ciaran Hinds (ROME, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS) is in talks to join the cast of GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGANCE. The role? The Devil himself.
Italian actress and singer Violante Placido (THE AMERICAN) reportedly also in negotiations to play the mother of a young boy, son of Hinds’ character. Johnny Blaze (Nicolas Cage), hiding out in Europe, wll be enlisted to stop the demonic father from possesing the child.
Directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (CRANK, GAMER) plan to shoot the film for Columbia Pictures in Romania and Turkey, with a late November commencement in mind.
Neveldine and Taylor penned the screenplay, based by a story by David S. Goyer (BATMAN BEGINS).
Ghost Rider 2 Gains Momentum
According to New York Magazine’s Vulture blog comic book movie sequel, GHOST RIDER 2, is definitely on its way. After the first film made $270m worldwide way back in 2007 a sequel is finally coming together, with or without its star, Nicolas Cage (KICK-ASS, THE WICKER MAN).
Work on GHOST RIDER 2 has been fast-tracked since copyrights holder Columbia now has until November to start the thing or the rights go back to Marvel (who are know owned by Disney). Scott Gimple and Seth Hoffman (FLASH FORWARD) have apparently just finished a new draft of the script which is being watched over by David S. Goyer, and the studio have a shortlist of directors (which doesn’t include original director Mark Steven Johnson) for the film.
There’s doubt over whether Cage will return as the titular GHOST RIDER since he’s currently busy with promotional duties on THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE and might be involved with NATIONAL TREASURE 3. Since Cage was probably the biggest selling point for the first film it’ll be interesting to see how Columbia deal with this one.What do you think, does the prospect of a GHOST RIDER sequel excite you? Will you miss Cage in the central role?