Mark Steven Johnson on Ghost Rider!
Source: Mark Steven Johnson, SHH
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.
Good news for Stan "The Man" Lee today
Judge Says Stan Lee Entitled to Profits
Source: Associated Press
January 19, 2005
According to the Associated Press, a judge in Manhattan federal court has ruled that Stan Lee, chairman emeritus at Marvel, is entitled to 10 percent of the profits from movie and television productions involving Marvel characters, as well as movie-related toys manufactured and sold by the company itself.
It also determined that a claim to share profits from Marvel's ventures with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Universal Studios to produce Spider-Man and Incredible Hulk merchandise will have to be resolved by jury verdict.
"This is pretty much a sweeping victory for us," said Lee's attorney Howard Graff of the firm Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky of New York.
Marvel says that it will appeal the ruling and continue to contest the claims on which the court did not rule
Wes Bentley is Blackheart in Ghost Rider
Source: Variety
January 21, 2005
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
http://www.superherohype.com/index.php
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It already has gone away! 5.2%
Total votes: 5735
Originally posted by IRTMU-Dragon
Man Thing is coming out in june I think.
Man-Thing Going Straight to TV
Source: Fangoria
January 25, 2005
Fangoria has learned that Lions Gate Films and Marvel Studios' Man-Thing, directed by Brett Leonard, will indeed by-pass theaters and will air on Sci Fi Channel in April. The movie will then come to DVD on June 14.
Stay tuned for more details as they come in.
Ghost Rider to Film in Bacchus Marsh
Source: The Courier
January 31, 2005
The Courier reports that Columbia Pictures will film a scene for Ghost Rider, starring Nicolas Cage and Wes Bentley, in Bacchus Marsh:
Moorabool Shire Mayor Peter Russell said the shire was delighted to attract Ghost Rider to Bacchus Marsh.
"It will be a very high profile scene, because it's going to be shot on a very major roadway," Cr Russell said.
"The spin-offs to the community are fragmented, but it is great for the shire," he said.
A Ghost Rider Production Company spokesperson confirmed a scene would be shot in Bacchus Marsh in April or May.
"Filming starts on February 14," the spokesperson said.
"The Bacchus Marsh scene was going to be at the start of the film, but it has been rescheduled to towards the end of the film."
New Writers on G.I. Joe Adaptation?
Source: IGN Filmforce
February 1, 2005
IGN Filmforce tells us they have learned that screenwriters David Elliot and Paul Lovett are now writing the big screen version of G.I. Joe. Lorenzo Di Bonaventura is producing the live-action feature for Paramount Pictures.
IGNFF had recently heard that Joe might be going the comedic route but the source of our Elliot/Lovett scoop advised us that the project is not a comedy.
Di Bonaventura's office refused any comment on Joe and the writers' reps at CAA did not respond to our inquiries for confirmation.
from superherohype
Tom Jane Gives Punisher 2 Update
Source: Ain't-It-Cool-News February 13, 2005
A scooper for Ain't-It-Cool-News attended the Dallas Comic Con Convention this weekend, where Tom Jane revealed some new details on The Punisher 2.
The moderator asked Thomas Jane about there being rumors of a possible Punisher 2. Thomas' respone was....."Oh, is that still just a rumor?" We all perked up, Niles asked Jane if he could talk about this, and Thomas said "Why Not." Jane let the cat out of the bag and told the room that yesterday at a studio in north Dallas (he dropped the name, but I don't remember it), they filmed the teaser for Punisher 2. Tom O'Brien, the cover art model of Frank Castle for the Punisher comics who was also at the Con, was also at the shoot yesterday in full costume. Jane said that on his phone, he owns the only picture of himself and the "real" Punisher, both in full costume, standing next to each other. No word on when or where we will see this trailer though.
Jane said that while the script is not finished, he is working closely with the team. He said that he is doing EVERYTHING he can do to get the setting moved to the borroughs of New York and that Jigsaw is "more than likely" going to be the villian in the movie.
Visit the link below for more on the event.
Official Sin City Site Launched!
Source: Dimension Films
February 16, 2005
The excellent official new website for Robert Rodriguez's and Frank Miller's Sin City is now online at SinCitythemovie.com. At the site, you can check out character info (with new clips), movie info, lots of new photos, desktops, games, the trailer, IM icons, posters, and much more.
Visit the site by clicking the link above! The movie hits theaters on April 1st.
http://www.sincitythemovie.com/
My sincerest apologies to Paul and others for my unannounced absence from KMC