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It seems like everyone I talk to about Nic Cage returning for another GHOST RIDER film responds with shock and confusion. I’ve found that most seem to have the perception that the first film didn’t make money. Not true. The first movie cost $110 million to make, and grossed over $228 million worldwide (half of that was in U.S. box office). Add to that its unexpected popularity on DVD, and GHOST RIDER was actually a fairly successful film. Nevermind the fact that critics pretty much universally panned the film, or that comic book fans for the most part seem to loathe it. The sequel (which IS happening) is tentatively titled GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE, and is based on a script by David Goyer. CRANK directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor are said to be at the helm. MTV (in another great post by my buddy Rick Marshall) recently got some nice tidbits from Nicolas Cage during a recent press junket for THE SORCERER’S APPRENTICE.
“I’m very excited about those two,” said Cage of the “Crank” directing duo. “They’re originals, and they know how to make a movie look great, and they know how to use the camera. And I think they’ll have a fresh, a very fresh take on the character.”
According to Cage, their take on the character will come from a Goyer script that the actor likes “very much” — though he hinted that the sequel might not be a direct follow-up to the first “Ghost Rider” film.
“It’s a different trajectory, but it’s still the same guy,” he said. “That’s all I can talk about!”
Cage also made it clear that he’s not ripping on the first film when he heaps praise on the sequel. “I’m not knocking the first one, whatever people think,” he explained. “I stand by that movie as well. I thought it was like a Faustian fairytale, like, if Disney were to make a movie about Faust, it would be in that vein, like a Western and a little lighter.”
In a way, I feel really bad for Cage in that GHOST RIDER wasn’t the film it could have been. It’s not completely awful, but it’s certainly not a great comic book film. And that’s why he gets my sympathy, because Cage is one of the most well known comic book fans among the Hollywood A-list crowd. I actually own one of his comics from his personal collection, which was auctioned off here in Dallas in 2002 (much through speculation that his then wife, Lisa Marie Presley, was forcing him to sell it). I guess what I’m saying is that he, more than many in Hollywood, really deserves to have success playing a comic book hero on the big screen. Maybe the second GHOST RIDER outing will correct the mistakes of the first one. With the CRANK boys in the director’s chair, it’s sure to be an interesting film… to say the least. Let us know if you’re excited to see a second helping of the ol’ flaming skull. You can see the interview video below.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
