Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank: High Voltage, Gamer) are in negotiations to direct Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance for Columbia Pictures.
Nicolas Cage is also in talks to reprise his role as stunt motorcyclist and flaming skull hero Johnny Blaze, despite rumors to the contrary. Eva Mendes will not be returning.
Heat Vision reports the deals are only in the preliminary stages, but the studio hopes to get the sequel underway by this fall. As we previously reported, Columbia is looking to have this ready in time for a 2011 release after the cancellation of Spider-Man 4 left a gap in their summer slate. Plus the studio needs to have this in production by November 2010 or the film rights to the comic book character revert to Marvel, which is now owned by Disney.
David Goyer wrote the story in 2001, but his commitment to other projects like the Superman reboot kept him from doing a more recent polish. ”Flashforward” writers Scott Gimple and Seth Hoffman touched it up before delivering it to the studio. Neveldine and Taylor may do a rewrite, if they sign to direct.
I’m curious about this development if for no other reason than the partnership of Cage and his over-the-top antics with the overdone, amped up style of the directing duo. I gave up on Ghost Rider being any good after the original. Now I just want to see pure ridiculousness.
Following the smash hit of Warner Bros’