August 19, 2011 by Paul Curtin
Despite receiving generally negative reviews, the first Ghost Rider film surprisingly was a hit at the box office, bringing in $45 million on its opening weekend and grossing over $228 million to date. Judging by the reviews, you would never think they’d make another Ghost Rider, or at least so soon and with Nicolas Cage reprising his role, but it’s the movie business and now anything that makes a profit gets a sequel or a reboot.
Although Sony has reportedly cut the $135 million budget in half to around $65 million, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance still looks very promising due its newly improved production team. Directing duo Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, who filmed the visually impressive yet poorly written films Crank and Gamer, are set to direct. More importantly, writer of the recent Christopher Nolan Batman films, David S. Goyer, is on board as the film’s lead writer. The combination of Neveldine and Taylor’s visuals with Goyer’s writing is enough to give this reboot a chance. Check out the official synopsis and trailer below:
Nicolas Cage returns as Johnny Blaze in Columbia Pictures’ and Hyde Park Entertainment’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. In the successor to the worldwide hit Ghost Rider, Johnny – still struggling with his curse as the devil’s bounty hunter – is hiding out in a remote part of Eastern Europe when he is recruited by a secret sect of the church to save a young boy (Fergus Riordan) from the devil (Ciaran Hinds). At first, Johnny is reluctant to embrace the power of the Ghost Rider, but it is the only way to protect the boy – and possibly rid himself of his curse forever. Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. Screenplay by Scott M. Gimple & Seth Hoffman and David S. Goyer. Story by David S. Goyer. Based on the Marvel Comic.
