Will We See Ghost Rider 2 Without Nicolas Cage?
Despite the fact thatGhost Riderdidn’t exactly set the fanbase on fire (ahem), starNicolas Cagehas often talked about the potential for a sequel, and Columbia has been slowly moving towards a ‘go’ point for the second film in the series no one really wants. Or, no one wants another film in the vein of the first. If aGhost Riderfilm roared into theaters and actually lookedgood, opinions could change really fast.
WouldGhost Rider 2be better or worse off without Nic Cage? Thanks to a couple scheduling issues, Columbia now looks ready to make the movie with or without him.
Vulturesays that Cage’s schedule forNational Treasure 3will likely interfere withGhost Rider 2, and that the studio is ready to go forward on the film without him. WritersScott GimpleandSeth Hoffman(Flash Forward) worked withDavid Goyeron a script, which has just been turned in.
It’s not even so much that Columbia believes so heavily in Ghost Rider that the studio is desperate to make another movie. It is that Columbia doesn’t want another studio to make another movie with the character. Unless another film is in production by July 29, 2025, the rights revert back to Marvel and (therefore) Disney. Vulture is told that Columbia is asking Marvel for a contract extension, which seems fairly absurd — why would Marvel make it easier for a rival studio to make a film based on a property that Marvel would probably like to have back in the fold?
(The question I expect to be brought up in comments is: could Marvel grant Columbia an extension on the provision that Marvel could use the character in a film likeThe Avengers? I don’t know, and late on a Sunday I don’t have any means to find out. Seems unlikely, however.)
The question posed by Vulture is: would a sequel work without Cage? The answer is a resounding:of courseit would. Cage can help sell a movie likeNational Treasure, but the dismal box-office showing this weekend forKick-Asssuggests he doesn’t always do much for movies that have a weirder idea at play. (Go ahead and argue about Cage’s supporting status inKick-Assmaking it a very different equation thanNational Treasure.) Then again,Ghost Ridermade over $200m worldwide — not a mint, when marketing is accounted for, but they didn’t take a bath on that one, either. What part of that had to do with Cage?
So how does Columbia figure this one? Little-known superhero on one side, cool-looking guy with a flaming skull and a motorcycle on the other. Recognizable star Nic Cage on one side, lack of recognizable star from the very shitty first movie on the other. Which is more valuable? In the end it might not matter, as the studio may have to move forward just to keep the property. In a different timeline the best case scenario might be: get a script and director that can coax aBad Lieutenant-style performance out of Cage, and I’d be quite happy to see him back on the bike. But that may not be an option.
