Marvel has a long list of comic-to-film projects that didn’t pan out so well. Ghost Rider is one of them. That may be the most diplomatic way I’ve ever put that. Ordinarily anything having to do with Ghost Rider has elicited a rage in me that leaves me angry. . . Hulk angry. So why am I so calm this time?
Well, as we’ve already covered here at The Flickcast, Ghost Rider is getting a sequel which could have been as craptastic as the first film. However, the script for the new movie is from one of my favorite writers David Goyer (Batman Begins, FlashForward). Recently, MTV caught up with Goyer and asked him about the Ghost Rider sequel:
“It’s not exactly a reboot,” said Goyer, “I hate to say it’s more realistic, because he’s got a flaming skull for a head, but it’s a bit more stripped down and darker. It’s definitely changing tone. What ‘Casino Royale’ was to the Bond movies, hopefully this will be to ‘Ghost Rider.’”
I’m not sure Casino Royale is the best comparison to make, but I understand what Goyer is trying to say. Dropping all the baggage like Mephistopheles and his minions and focus on Johnny Blaze and his curse. That’s definitely the way to go as there was way to much attention paid to peripheral nonsense in the first movie.
There was one other thing I found interesting about the interview. Goyer states Ghost Rider 2 isn’t really a reboot but then says: “You don’t have to have seen the first film. It doesn’t contradict anything that happened in the first film, but we’re pretending that our audience hasn’t seen the first film.”
I think that statement alone sums up the criteria for what a reboot is. Furthermore, Goyer compared this film to Casino Royale which was a reboot itself. So, if you ask me, Ghost Rider 2 is a reboot, even if Nic Cage is coming back to reprise the role of Johnny Blaze.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Ghost Rider is a great character and perfect for the times considering how everyone seems to love dark, vigilante characters these days. When combined with Goyer’s script I think a second Ghost Rider film just might work and it certainly can’t get any worse then the first film.
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