GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE, the sequel to that Nicholas Cage movie about everybody’s favorite bonehead biker, has got a plot now; but it’s still looking for its girl and its Mephisto. Or, at least, I presume it’s Mephisto- - the synopsis THR has just refers to him as “the devil." Anyway, the producers in negotiations right now with Irish actor Ciaran Hinds about playing the prince of lies. He’s had a diverse filmography, but the role most relevant to genre fans is his turn as Dumbeldore’s young brother, Aberforth, in the next HARRY POTTER movies.
Now, what about the synopsis I mentioned?
The story sees Johnny Blaze, aka Ghost Rider, hiding out in remote Eastern Europe and struggling to repress his curse. Blaze is recruited by a sect to take on the devil, who wants to take over his mortal son’s body on the boy’s birthday.
European vacations? Bastard sons? Super-people trying to repress their nature? That actually sounds a little like THE AMERICAN, that under-appreciated George Clooney that came out a month or so ago. And hey! What a coincidence - - Violante Placido is in talks to play the devil child’s mother and she played Clooney’s prostitute love interest in that movie. The connections never cease being woven. == TEASER ==
They’re looking to shoot this movie in Romania and Turkey starting late next month. I’ll confess to having missed out on the first GHOST RIDER movie, but I’m a lot more intrigued in this one since Neveldine/Taylor, the insane directing duo behind GAMER and the CRANK movies, will be directing. If you’ve seen any of their movies, you’ll know that they've got a kinetic, anarchic style that a story like this really needs. If you’re going to do a flick about a blazing skull, why not go all the way over the top?
Tom Pinchuk’s the writer of HYBRID BASTARDS! & UNIMAGINABLE. Order them on Amazon here & here.