Celebration of Ghost Rider returning to Marvel, I've came up with a fancast for a stand alone reboot (that would lead to a stand alone trilogy) set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the Spirit of Vengeance. The only thing same about this from my previous attempt is the actors for Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider and Roxanne Simpson. Everything else, different. Here it goes.
Director: David Slade
Filmography: Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Hannibal tv series
Why: Get this out of the way. He's one of my favorite directors but there is no bias pairing him with my second favorite comicbook hero of all time. While no, I have not seen the tv series, Hannibal. Hard Candy was brilliant and disturbing. 30 Days of Night was creepy and a terrifying vampire film. Eclipse wasn't a good film but, it was visually amazing. He can get great performances out of his actors, he does dark movies, he has experience with visual effects movies, good pacing and knows how to tell a coherent story. Plus, he brought a real intensity to 30 Days of Night and I think he would definitely bring that to, Ghost Rider.
Writer: John Logan
Filmography: Gladiator, The Aviator, Hugo, The Last Samurai, Skyfall and many other films.
Why: The films that were the deciding factor in putting him as the writer are Gladiator, The Last Samurai and Skyfall. All of them are brilliant. All have shown his skills to write a character drive movie as well as exciting action (which David Slade knows how to direct action, I think they're a perfect match).
Score: Steve Jablonsky
Filmography: Transformers films, The Island, D-War, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), Friday the 13th (2009), Battleship, Gangster Squad, Pain and Gain, The Amityville Horror, A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) and many others.
Why: Steve Jablonsky is my favorite film composer but no bias here. For action films, it's exciting and with the Transformers films for example, it adds a lot of emotion. For horror, his music is again exciting but also has that truly creepy factor to it. Just to throw a couple examples out there. To me, he is truly amazing. Here are two examples I chose to put him on display.
Look of the Ghost Rider
I would have the overall look very similar to the "Road to Damnation" storyline. Simple head to toe in black leather, the chain as it is, motorcycle with flaming wheels. The skull though, It would be either a dark grey or similar to how it is in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance where it's black.
Tone
Think, The Dark Knight meets Blade 2 meets 30 Days of Night. That's the general tone of my ideal Ghost Rider movie but a VERY hard PG-13. Making it rated R is unnecessary.
Jake Gyllenhaal as Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider
Filmography: Donnie Darko, Brokeback Mountain, Prince of Persia, Zodiac, Love and Other Drugs, Source Code, Brothers, End of Watch, ect.
Why: As an action star, Prince of Persia and Source Code sold me. As a very dramatic actor films like Brokeback Mountain, Zodiac, Love and Other Drugs and End of Watch were the key films. Especially Donnie Darko and Love & Other Drugs. Donnie Darko, he played a very disturbed teenager. The combination of Donnie Darko and his role as Robert Graysmith in Zodiac is what I think Johnny Blaze should be. Lonely, disturbed, sad, curious, full of rage. Jake Gyllenhaal has proven he can be that and I think he would be the perfect choice for, Johnny Blaze. No over the top, crazy Blaze or jelly beans in a martini glass Blaze. But, a truly disturbed Johnny Blaze.
Evan Rachel Wood as Roxanne Simpson
Filmography: The Wrestler, The Ides of March, Thirteen
Why: Well, those are movies I know she's in. I've only seen, The Wrestler and wow, she was amazing. She deserved more recognition for her role in that movie. Tragic, lonely, broken hearted but a strong spirit and an overall strong woman. Evan Rachel Wood would do nothing but do this character justice.
Kevin Grevioux as Deathwatch
Filmography: Underworld, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, ect.
Grevioux is a big, menacing man as well as a good actor. For Deathwatch, I wanted someone who felt menacing and felt like a threat. Grevioux fits the bill as well as being a big guy. I know in the comics, Deathwatch isn't a big guy but, size helps. AS I said before, Grevioux is a good actor and I can see him playing the part right.
Michael C. Hall as Scarecrow
Filmography: Dexter series, Gamer
Obviously, Scarecrow is the villain with Deathwatch. I couldn't find anyone that could pull off being a insane villain and pull it off in a great way, even brilliant. I wanted to use, Johnny Whitworth but he was in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. I thought of Michael C. Hall and his role in Gamer and that was it. He was brilliant in Gamer and I think he would bring something unique to Scarecrow. I know he wasn't much of a threat in the comics until The Firm got involved and I would have them in the movie. I just don't have anyone cast as The Firm yet.
Thomas Jane as Michael Badilino
Filmography: The Punisher, Swordfish, Deep Blue Sea, Scott Pilgrim vs The World, The Mist.
Why: Thomas Jane is a great actor and I think he would do well in this supporting role. He has the right attitude, the acting chops, the right everything for this role. I wouldn't have him become Vengeance in the movies, this would be a little nudge to the comic fans. Plus, I couldn't think of another actor for the role.
Caretaker would appear in the sequel, there would be mentions of Crash, Mona, Barton and Naomi. Overall, what do you think? Comment below.