RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Media Ghost Rider

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Source: Mark Steven Johnson, BIGGUN
January 15, 2005


Ghost Rider writer/director Mark Steven Johnson has left another cool update on the Superhero Hype! message boards. Here's what's new!

Sorry it's been so long since I've checked in, but we start shooting in about four weeks so you can imagine how busy things are! Jesus. Four weeks out. Hard to believe, eh? Especially for those of you, like myself, who have waited for this movie for such a long time. These updates are always hard to write as I have to toe the line between wanting to tell you everything while having to keep the details under wraps.

So, first off. Casting. Mr. Cage will be Johnny Blaze. Take it from me. That's a done deal. And I could not be happier. Nic is in the shape of his life. Lean and mean, like a motorcycle stunt rider should. I've cast a few more parts but I should wait until the official announcements come (very soon). But safe to say, when in doubt? Listen to Biggun!

The Budget. Nice to see that we've been "upgraded" from a $40 million dollar movie to a $51 million dollar movie! Maybe that's enough for a Dazzler movie but not for a Ghost Rider movie! Seriously, this is an event movie. And Sony knows how to make them right. Rest assured. That is not the budget. Not by a long shot.

Johnny vs. Danny. The great thing about making a Ghost Rider movie is that I get to take the best from both the Johnny Blaze and the Danny Ketch versions of the comic. So even though I am telling the Johnny Blaze origin story, there are elements of the Danny Ketch stories that I love and will include in the movie (so don't worry, Flamehead! Your beloved Danny Ketch will be there in spirit!). Caretaker will be there. And Blackheart. But so will Mephisto and Roxanne and the Quentin Carnival.

The script. People have mentioned the old David Goyer draft. Goyer wrote two really interesting versions of a Ghost Rider movie. I'd go to see either one of them. But my version is my own. The script is much closer to the comic. But at the same time, it's much more of a Western. A Supernatural Western is, I think, about the coolest idea ever. The Ghost Rider needs that open road as well as the city. I feel that is what makes him unique -- that he's a rider. Think Mad Max. Unforgiven. We have huge battles in the city but, ultimately, they will end up out in the desert.

The Hellcycle. Well, it's simply unbelievable. It's sculpt is finished and it went into the molds last week. It's the Chopper from Hell. No doubt about it. This is the coolest thing I have ever seen in my life. The toys and the video game are already in the works and they are going to kick ass!

Better go. Sunday morning here and I have to get back to work. Will check in again later and soon, hopefully, with some artwork. Thanks for all your kind words and thoughts and criticisms. I'm making this for us!

It's always cool to hear it from the man himself! 'Retroman' also alerted us to this link which lists the possible plot of the movie:

In order to save his dying father, young stunt cyclist Johnny Blaze sells his soul to Mephistopheles and sadly parts from the pure-hearted Roxanne Simpson, the love of his life. Years later, Johnny's path crosses again with Roxanne, now a gogetting reporter, and also with Mephistopheles, who offers to release Johnny's soul if Johnny becomes the fabled, fiery Ghost Rider, a supernatural agent of vengeance and justice. Mephistopheles charges Johnny with defeating the despicable Blackheart, Mephistopheles's nemesis and son, who plans to displace his father and create a new hell even more terrible than the old one.

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Variety reports that "American Beauty" star Wes Bentley will play the villain Blackheart in Ghost Rider, the Columbia Pictures comic book adaptation that stars Nicolas Cage and is being directed by Mark Steven Johnson.

The Marvel Comics property centers on a motorcyclist who makes a pact with dark forces, gets double-crossed and battles the bad guys to protect the woman he loves. The movie is being produced by Michael De Luca, Avi Arad, Gary Foster and Ari Arad. Johnson rewrote a Shane Salerno script.

The trade adds that Bentley is a friend of Colin Farrell, who starred as Bullseye in Johnson's Daredevil. Farrell put the actor and helmer together for this new film.

Ghost Rider begins shooting next month in Australia

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IN four hours of chaos in central Melbourne last night there was a chase, shots were fired and a special police emergency team was called but no one was arrested.

The cast and crew of the film Ghost Rider moved to the heart of the city to shoot a scene from the movie that stars Nicolas Cage.

While all the commotion caused some concern among pedestrians, their fears were soon put to rest when they realised the police uniforms were black.

The unfamiliar marking "Sheriff" on the sides of the cars also gave onlookers a clue, not to mention the dozens of cameras.

Cage was seen on the set yesterday after lunching at Southgate's The River restaurant.

He has been working in Melbourne since filming began in February. Cage plays motorcycle rider Johnny Blaze, who spends his nights as Ghost Rider, a possessed demon on wheels who hunts evil-doers.

Ghost Rider is being shot at the Central City Studios in Docklands, Telstra Dome and other Melbourne sites.

More than 500 Victorians are working on the $40 million film.

Filiming has closed the subway at the river end of Flinders St station until Thursday.

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thedoctor said:


More than 500 Victorians are working on the $40 million film.

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