As a longtime fan of the Ghost Rider mythos, I can’t help but be thrilled at the prospect of seeing this iconic character return to the big screen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Having grown up watching Nicolas Cage’s portrayal of Johnny Blaze in the 2007 film, I hold a special place in my heart for that cult classic. And now, with Keanu Reeves, Ryan Gosling, and Norman Reedus expressing interest in donning the Spirit of Vengeance, the possibilities seem endless.
Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as we know it today, began with Iron Man in 2008, movies based on Marvel characters existed independently of each other. It might be hard to believe now. Recently, SYFY WIRE discovered an interview from 2022 with Mark Steven Johnson, the writer-director of “Ghost Rider,” which is currently streaming on Peacock, sharing his experiences during that period prior to the MCU.
I felt like being part of the Wild West myself as we navigated through uncharted creative territories during our Zoom session. Our mission was to give a home to beloved characters from my childhood, which involved quite a bit of scrappiness and persistence. The atmosphere was unlike anything I’ve experienced before – it demanded constant fighting to protect the characters I cherished. But there was an upside to this raw, untamed environment: we had the freedom to experiment and explore, pushing boundaries with projects like “Ghost Rider.”
As a big fan, I’d say: “I personally enjoy the unique and exhilarating experience that the Ghost Rider films offer, outside the Marvel Cinistic Universe. Catch up on both movies now streaming on Peacock. And let me share an interesting tidbit, Nicolas Cage’s Ghost Rider could have been rated R, and initially Johnny Depp and Eric Stoltz were considered for the role. Reflecting on 2011’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, it’s fascinating to see how deeply Nic Cage immersed himself into the character.”
Ghost Rider Director Remembers Getting Marvel Movie Off The Ground Before MCU
By the end of the 2000s, Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige had already made a name for himself as a rising executive, having produced movies like “X-Men,” “Spider-Man,” and “Fantastic Four” franchises, as well as “Daredevil” (2003), which was written and directed by Johnson with Ben Affleck starring as Matt Murdock and Jon Favreau as Foggy Nelson. Feige stood out for his intelligence, kindness, and supportiveness, recalls Johnson. Today, he is the face of Marvel Studios – it’s truly remarkable to witness his accomplishments. I’m thrilled for him.
In the world of comic book movies today, the concept of a motorcycle-riding skeleton exacting vengeance on evildoers as Satan’s representative isn’t entirely implausible. However, this was a significant risk for Sony/Columbia Pictures to take on back in 2007, just before Robert Downey Jr.’s transformative portrayal of Iron Man shifted the game.
“I’ve been an avid motorcycle rider and a huge Harley Davidson fan throughout my life. Among all characters, I found Ghost Rider to be the most intriguing yet underutilized one. At that time, there was no comic dedicated to this character, so explaining it to people required some effort. ‘A flaming skull on a Harley Davidson?’ I would reply affirmatively, acknowledging their surprise and fascination with the unusual yet powerful imagery of Ghost Rider.”
As someone who has worked in special effects for over two decades, I can attest to the fact that creating convincing CGI fire is no easy feat. Even with today’s advanced technology, it remains a challenging task due to the complex and unpredictable nature of real fire.
Why Nicolas Cage Seems Kind of Crazy in 2007’s Ghost Rider Movie
After receiving the go-ahead from the studio, Johnson enthusiastically began production, connecting with Nicolas Cage – known as the most devoted Ghost Rider fan – who sported a relevant tattoo. They instantly clicked over their shared enthusiasm for the character. The filmmaker maintains that no other actor was under consideration for the role of Johnny Blaze, an acclaimed stuntman who makes a deal with the Devil in his youth. True to form, Cage delivered a distinct interpretation of the character.
“Nic often pondered, ‘If my character was truly immortal and I kept surviving despite numerous accidents, I might eventually lose my sanity. I’d likely become a tad unhinged.’ This thinking could account for Nic’s peculiar habits, such as listening to soothing Carpenters tunes, eating jelly beans from a martini glass, or watching monkey karate clips. His behavior seemed bizarre, yet I understood it. I mused, ‘What an intriguing way to exist.’ Instead of embodying the typical tough and masculine hero, Nic decided to portray the frightened character on the edge, fighting to keep his composure.”
Johnny finds it challenging to keep the monster under control as he attempts to revive the long-lost romance. “It transformed into quite an intense, dark fantasy in a sense,” Johnson describes. “There was this intriguing Beauty and the Beast dynamic at play. Yet Nic is an amazing companion, and, as previously mentioned, he’s always open to new experiences. He never shuts down ideas with ‘I would never do that.’ Instead, he encourages discussions and gives every possibility a try. What’s the worst that could happen?”
The filmmaker describes the movie as a unique blend of Western and horror genres, with Carter Slade, the original Ghost Rider from the 1800s (also known as Phantom Rider in the comics), serving as a guiding figure for Mr. Blaze. Johnson shares, “We had to delve deeper into Carter Slade’s story since it was quite limited in the comics. It was an exciting opportunity to develop this character further and portray him as a nurturing influence.” Initially, Johnson aimed to cast Sam Elliott for the role of Slade. Elliott, a legendary actor, agreed, adding his distinctive mustache and soothing cowboy voice to the production. “Sam Elliott is an iconic figure, and just having him in our film makes it more intelligent and believable,” Johnson adds.
In a brilliant piece of casting, Johnson brought on board motorcycle icon Peter Fonda for the role of Mephistopheles. This legendary figure from “Easy Rider” (1969) would later collect his due from Johnny by unleashing the Spirit of Vengeance within him. Hell’s demons, headed by Wes Bentley’s Blackheart, had already begun causing chaos on earth.
The director fondly remembers Peter Fonda, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 79. He describes him as “fantastically fantastic,” an unusual and endearing individual. Once, he gathered the entire cast at his house to watch “Easy Rider.” Peter narrated the film, providing unique behind-the-scenes insights. It was like having a Director’s Cut of the highest caliber. He would casually mention, “This is when Jack [Nicholson] joined in and was on acid,” as they all watched him smoke a joint while revisiting his work in “Easy Rider.” Quite an extraordinary experience.
As a longtime fan of comic books and superhero movies, I’ve been following the Ghost Rider franchise with great interest since its inception. I vividly remember watching the first film hit theaters back in 2007, and being blown away by the special effects and the raw power of the Ghost Rider character. The movie was a massive success, grossing nearly a quarter of a billion dollars worldwide against a production budget of $110 million.
Ghost Rider Director Had No Involvement With Spirit of Vengeance Sequel
The sequel, titled “Spirit of Vengeance,” earned approximately $132 million worldwide with a production budget of only $57 million. This was an impressive feat as most film studios were shifting their focus from standalone superhero films to emulating the successful Marvel model. Nikolaj Cage reprised his role as Johnny, but Johnson had no part in this production. “Spirit of Vengeance” was directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, with a script penned by David S. Goyer (“The Dark Knight,” “Man of Steel”) and Scott M. Gimple (currently associated with “The Walking Dead”).
Johnson acknowledges, “That was merely someone else’s perspective. Totally distinct from it.” He adds, “The same applies to Daredevil when they produced the Elektra spin-off. It was an entirely new take. They grant you recognition for the initial film, but that’s all. They yearn to create their own interpretation, and I applaud that.”
In the fourth season of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” Ghost Rider made a comeback in live-action. This version of the character was portrayed by Gabriel Luna as Robbie Reyes. Although Reyes featured in just ten episodes on ABC, there were plans for Luna to reappear in a Hulu spin-off series. However, this project was unfortunately canceled due to creative disagreements that surfaced shortly after.
Around the same period, Marvel promoted Feige to the role of Chief Creative Officer, giving Marvel Studios control over all film and television projects. The appearance of supernatural characters such as Moon Knight, Blade, Werewolf by Night, and Black Knight suggests that Ghost Rider may soon join them. It’s reasonable to expect this given the rumors of a Midnight Sons project.
Who Will Play Ghost Rider in the MCU?
“Johnson believes that Keanu Reeves will make a strong comeback for the role of Ghost Rider. During an interview, Reeves mentioned his desire to take on this character, and Johnson enthusiastically agreed. Both Ryan Gosling and Norman Reedus have also shown interest in the part, but Johnson is confident in Reeves’ abilities.”
The filmmaker expressed his uncertainty about the sincerity of the offers, but he is thrilled at the possibility of having Keanu Reeves on board due to his deep-rooted passion for motorcycles. He even owns a motorcycle company. The filmmaker continued by expressing his excitement about handing over the characters to other creators and watching various interpretations come to life. As a fan, he enjoys witnessing different takes on iconic roles like Batman and is eagerly anticipating new versions of Ghost Rider.
Instead of asking what Johnson envisions for Ghost Rider’s MCU introduction, he proposes an entertaining and frightening concept for a Halloween episode or movie. This idea includes Marvel’s Scarecrow as the primary villain. Johnson had planned to include him as the antagonist in the 2007 film but couldn’t due to potential confusion with Batman’s Scarecrow, whose notoriety overshadowed Marvel’s version.
“Scarecrow was always about fear and I’ve always said that was such an interesting thing to get into Johnny’s head, to see what what that would do to him and do the character of Ghost Rider. That was that was just the first one off the top of my head. But I’d also like to see him team up because he’s such a rogue. He’s such an isolated person. And to see him get this big dysfunctional family, which is what you love about these team-ups, that would be really fun. So I hope that we do get to see him and Midnight Sons or some of these other [teams]. I thought Werewolf by Night great. I thought that was super fun. So I like what they’re doing and I’m curious to see where it’s all headed.”
Despite the upcoming new interpretation of the Spirit of Vengeance as Johnny Blaze in movies, fans still recall and cherish the 2007 film that introduced him to the big screen. Comedian Marc Calderaro is one such fan, whose solo show, titled “Ghost Rider: My Favorite Film,” has made this movie a beloved cult classic for generations.
“For years, he held his unique tradition in Austin: watching ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ together with everyone. It was more than just a movie for us; we turned it into a lively event, complete with a drinking game and endless jokes. Marc participated enthusiastically, even at my expense. I was happy he did, as I passed on my ‘Ghost Rider’ gloves – a prop from the film – to him with a heartfelt note. I no longer needed them, but wanted him to have them to perfect his costume. Laughter was essential, whether it came from mocking each other or sharing in the joy of the movie.”
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2024-07-23 20:02