Hey guys and gals. Well we have been getting some news that the sequel to the Nic Cage Ghost Rider must start filming before a certain date, which if it doesn't go through, the rights go back to Disney and they will plan to most likely reboot the character and make it more of a box office success. So with this article I'm gonna do well...a Fan-fic on the Director, Writer, Story, and Actors. A quick summary; Johnny Blaze, a stunt rider, had made a deal with the devil, who after the deal turned Blaze into the Ghost Rider, a malevolent spirit who tracks down the evil on Earth and returns them to hell. He was then succeeded by the next Rider named Danny Ketch, who gained the power through an amulet on his motorcycle. These two eventually become ghost riders at the same time in the recent continuity of the comic line and possess different color flames. Alright with that said lets begin with Directors.
Director: This is sorta of a tricky one, Do we go for story and characters over action and effects or do we go with action and effects over the story and characters. For most directors its finding a good balance between both and for a character like Ghost Rider, you need a good dose of all of these things and to me the best people for the job are non other than Mark Neveldine and Brain Taylor. I loved Crank, it was a fresh and exciting action movie not afraid of pushing the terms of action and cartoon/video game like violence. To me these guys can turn this movie into a fun, action packed, and wild film. They seem to just hand you little plot and just go for the crazy but I think they can slow it down and give us something really awesome.
Writer: well this is simple and quick...Jason Aaron, the man who made Ghost Rider awesome and a sweet read should be allowed to write the script for the film. He knows these characters so well and I would love to see him really make this film great.
Story: Well if Aaron would be the writer, then his run on Ghost Rider should be used and referenced, mostly the first few pages of issue #20(those who know what I'm talking about know this awesome part, its what got me hooked INSTANTLY)
As for the overall we shouldn't make this another origin story, have the above mention be the beginning and set up the character and origin. The story should be a focus on BOTH Johnny and Danny seeking to cure themselves of this terrible curse. Have Johnny and Daniel play off each other in terms of their "rider" abilities and more or less making them not just brothers but a mentor and student. In terms of Villain or Villains, Have Mephisto be alluded during some dark dream sequences. In terms of a physical villain to fight, I say Blackout(2nd version), a demon/man hybrid who posses darkness-generating powers and can make his teeth and nails extremely sharp. Another villain that can be added would be the Deacon, the huge dude who wields angelic blades and who's immune to the penance stare. And of course have the ending set up for a sequel that sets up Danny as the successor to the Ghost Rider name, and perhaps give allusion to him joining the Midnight Son's.
Actors and Characters: Here comes the fun part. I'm gonna follow the new method of Marvel where you don't need big name actors to make a blockbuster, so again before I start casting, this is opinion based and choices that I feel could match the character in terms of presence and portrayal. With that lets begin.
Johnny Blaze: the stunt cyclist who sold his soul to the devil turning him into the devil's bounty hunter. He's a man who drinks himself to forget the curse that he possesses. In terms of age, he's a much older and wiser man who hates his power yet uses in order to survive in the world he's stuck in. So the person I believe who could give us a much more in depth and hardened edge to the character is....Bruce Greenwood. For those who don't know who Bruce Greenwood is, he played Captain Pike in the recent Star Trek movie and played the president in National Treasure 2. His most recent work is voicing Batman in Under the Red Hood animated film coming soon. I picked him because he gives not only good performances but he can add weight and emotion to a twisted soul like Blaze. He could play Johnny as an old biker lost in the new age and a bad-ass with a hellfire shotgun. Go here for more information http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339304/
Daniel Ketch: The second(really third) Ghost Rider who succeeded Blaze in the comics and has a more modern edge to him in terms of clothing and cycles. He too becomes an addict later in continuity but for the film adaptation, he will be a cocky and often brash rebel without a cause, seeking truth in what he has become and trying to find his place in life. Now you think I will go straight for Shia Labeouf or Emil Hirsch, but I'm gonna pick someone I feel is about to become really big in Hollywood once Inception hits theaters...and thats Joseph Gordon Levitt. He's been in films and TV for quite some time and was in the recent 500 days of Summer and is in the up coming Inception(word of mouth from my sources say he's amazing in it, some said he surpasses Dicaprio). His portrayal would be a mixture of the Daniel in the old comics and a more modernize version, having him abuse the power but then learn to wield it and be a real hero. Go here for more information http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0330687/
Mephisto: well since I mentioned he would be more or less a cameo and a shadowy red presences so he would be outlined in the darkness but vocally he would be voiced by Mark Strong, yeah because he plays great villains already, lets make him the baddest of the bad....but only as the voice, keep Mephisto hidden, true evil should never be fully seen, but presence felt
Caretaker: The person who takes care of all the knowledge of the Ghost Riders. Since we had what was the essence of the original done in the first movie by Sam Elliot and that was a good performance. So I guess the only way to top that would have to be....Danny Houston. Best known for playing the younger General Stryker in Borigins and played the lead vampire in 30 days of Night. His portrayal of the character would be different yet familiar to the Elliot version
Blackout: The first villain of the film, who is after Daniel. A man who is half demon and possesses the power to generate darkness and eliminate all light from a given area. He also has the ability to make his teeth and nails sharp. A great actor for this is Ben Foster, hes already famous in his comic book roles, known for the role of Angel in X-3 and played the Stranger in 30 days of night. He is a great character actor and this role would suit him well. For more info check here http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004936/
The Deacon: This big religious bad-ass was seen in the recent Jason Aaron run. He's a prisoner who is covered in Christan tattoos and kills in the name of the lord. He is insanely huge and super strong. He is immune to the penance stare and wields huge ass angelic blades. Since this would be a heavy stunt based villain, I would give it to Robert Maillet, you seen him as the 300 uber immortal and the big guy RDJ fights in Sherlock Holmes.
I know I have let out Roxanne but I felt her character should be downplayed and used in flashbacks. In terms of any love interest I guess give Daniel one by creating a new character for the movie, Since I haven't found any love interests on reliable sites.
And there you have my overall look at a potential remake/reboot to the series. This is my first full fanfic so go easy on me. I hope to do more of these when I get plenty of free time. Til next time BlackAirs OUT!!!