Given recent comments from Nicolas Cage about wanting to take the "Ghost Rider" franchise in an entirely new direction, it was all but guaranteed that the 2007 comic book film would get a sequel—but today, it became official.
According to Variety, Columbia Pictures is in early discussions with "Batman Begins" and "Super Max" screenwriter David Goyer to work on the story for "Ghost Rider 2," which would presumably star Nicolas Cage as the motorcycle-riding, flame-headed spirit of vengeance.
Goyer hasn't signed the dotted line on the "Ghost Rider" sequel, but word is that Columbia is already planning to move forward with the project based on an earlier script from the "Blade" writer.
Bringing in Goyer is viewed as an attempt to give the "Ghost Rider" franchise a reboot along the lines of the Christopher Nolan-helmed "Batman" series, which Goyer had a strong hand in bringing to life.
Still, it's worth wondering just how much Goyer can retool the property with Cage still on board as Johnny Blaze. These reboots tend to work best when the slate is wiped clean and fresh faces are brought into the mix, and it doesn't sound like this sequel will follow such a mold.
Interestingly, Variety's report also confirms several other Marvel projects currently in active development, including "Fantastic Four," "Silver Surfer" and "Daredevil" at Fox, the upcoming "Spider-Man" sequels at Sony and "Sub-Mariner" at Universal. Putting these films on the fast-track is a no-brainer for the studios—should they slack on their respective comic book franchises, the rights to the characters could revert back to Marvel, as was the case with "Iron Man."
With the all-powerful Disney presumably partnered up with Marvel Studios, losing characters like Namor and Silver Surfer to the House of Ideas must be a frightening prospect for rival film studios, indeed.
What does a "Ghost Rider" sequel need to become a success? Of the other planned Marvel-based films, which one are you looking forward to most?
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