The Nicolas Cage discussion thread

[Hunter Rider]

I honestly want the Superman movie to be good, and I don't consider it in direct competition with GR anyway, since the two films are quite different, but the GR fans have less to worry about right now than the Supes fans IMO.

My sentiments exactly Lizard:up: It will be unlikely GR will outperform SR but it may well be the better movie

[FlameHead]

Just so you know, that's not really a new pic folks. We've chatted about that (and the others that went along with it which can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wafonso/sets/254747/) in the set reports thread at one time.

[Banshee]

Looked around and didn't see any sign of this over here so i just thought I'd post a link. Nothing really special but its the first official still photo of blaze.

http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/606/606829p1.html

Oh, and if this is a repeat thread, any mod please close it.

[Banshee]

Ah ****, my bad, just looked at the SHH front page and its there... my bad.

[Fantastic-Boy]

SHH update for a much-better version!

[LadyVader]

He looks like he lost a lot of weight.
Either that o he's sucking his cheeks.

[Alexander]

STOP STARING AT MY WIG, DAMMIT!

http://img250.echo.cx/img250/7375/nic6sp.jpg

[Mr Nick]

It's amazing how negative some of the comments are, especially on Ain't It Cool. Who the heck cares about the hairpiece!!? Nic Cage is a top actor and he has a love for the character. That's the important thing.


I'm more concerned about Ghost Rider's look. The hellcycle looks awesome, so I hope Ghostie does too. None of that squinty eye sockets or day-glo jumpsuit crap from some of the 90's comics.

:up:

[Decypher]

Sure, let's clone Johnny Depp

Skeet Ulrich :D

[AmerikazMostWanted]

in that pic nicks face kinda looks skeliton like cause its so boney , maybe they gave him makup to give a skull like look to his face so it goes together better when he changes into ghost rider



http://img254.echo.cx/img254/9177/ghosttt4rk.jpg
yeah its crappy only took me 5 minutes

[hellfiremaster]

Appreciate what we've got.

Thats right.. this could be Billy Zane, Leo DeCaprio, Matt Damon, Patrick Swayze, or maybe worse yet, Keannu Reeves. There are a plethora of worse choices.. and only one or two better.

HFM

[BIGGUN]

It's amazing how negative some of the comments are, especially on Ain't It Cool. Who the heck cares about the hairpiece!!? Nic Cage is a top actor and he has a love for the character. That's the important thing.


man...i stopped reading those talkback comments years ago...they post negative comments just for the sake of being negative. its almost like a contest on who can come up w/ the best one liner against a film....and if there is just one small bad aspect of something they harp on it constantly and ignore anything that is positive.
there are legit gripes and positive comments from time to time but they seem to get drowned out by all of the foul language and insults. i got tired of reading that $%^& after just a few pages.

[Vartha]

http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2005/04/22/inside-comingatt-ghostrider.jpg
looks awesome :up:
He looks like a cross between Ketch and Blaze to me

[Vartha]

in that pic nicks face kinda looks skeliton like cause its so boney , maybe they gave him makup to give a skull like look to his face so it goes together better when he changes into ghost rider



http://img254.echo.cx/img254/9177/ghosttt4rk.jpg
yeah its crappy only took me 5 minutes
you and that head AMW lol

[tamron]

Cage looks great. I'd bet that CGI is part of why Cage's face looks sunken, and also, I think that 'druggie' look makes sense for a stunt rider like JB. He's been around, he should look worn to a degree.

[Spider-Who?]

http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2005/04/22/inside-comingatt-ghostrider.jpg
looks awesome :up:


hey! he stole my hair style! well....i can't blame him...it does look damn good. ;) :)

[AmerikazMostWanted]

you and that head AMW lol
haha im trying to find a new head but just pasted that one on for now its hard finding good skulls.

[crystal_flame6]

I agree. They probably made his face look sunken in to help with the CGI and give them something to go off of. It will also help them if GR needs to move his jaw. Plus it makes it look like Nic's been threw a whole bunch of crap and doesn't look to thrilled to have to do it again or put up with people.

[crystal_flame6]

I think that it is mainly going to be Nic's body with a CGI skull. The CGI team will probably use Nic's face as a template for the skull. So he might have more to do with GR than you think.

[Wonderman]

Nic Cage is INCAPABLE of slacking thru ANY creative endeavor

[Weadazoid]

Considering how much Nick Actualy loves the Ghost rider comics I don't think he is going to slack through this role.

Nick is realy the first actor who has an avid love of the character he will be portraying

[KenK]

Yeah, consider the fact that the man's stage name was taken from a Marvel Comic!! That's how die-hard the man is! I think he'll give it his all, 'cause he's been dying to do a comic book movie for years!

Nick is realy the first actor who has an avid love of the character he will be portraying

Uh, Ben Affleck made his love of Daredevil very well-known during the filming of Daredevil. And anytime Michael Chiklis has talked about playing the Thing, he's mentioned his love of the character, so Cage wouldn't be the first.

[crystal_flame6]

But do any of them have a huge tatto of the character on their shoulder? I think Nic is the first to carry it that far, and let's not forget his impressive collection of the comics.

[panzertank]

You know, I hope they pull of the skull effect well, because I can't think of a movie where the skulls were done well. Most come off cartoony.
By the way wonderman, are you serious you named your dog panzertank or just panzer, cause although it is my name it is a bit repetitive, panzer being german for tank. So my name is tanktank, just wondering.
Plus anyone know if this is the cycle that he rides as ghost rider, where it changes into the hellcycle, or is that completely differet. I just noticed the chains on the back and was curious.

[Wonderman]

Yo Panzertank!

You're right. The name Panzertank is indeed a bit repetitive. Technically my dog's name on his AKC papers is Panzer Goodboy. He's a Brindle Boxer and when we got him at 6 weeks we realized he was built like a TANK, all muscle. Being a german breed, the name Panzer was begotten.

[InVictus]

You know, I hope they pull of the skull effect well, because I can't think of a movie where the skulls were done well. Most come off cartoony.
By the way wonderman, are you serious you named your dog panzertank or just panzer, cause although it is my name it is a bit repetitive, panzer being german for tank. So my name is tanktank, just wondering.
Plus anyone know if this is the cycle that he rides as ghost rider, where it changes into the hellcycle, or is that completely differet. I just noticed the chains on the back and was curious.

Pirates of the caribbean's skull were quite good.
Also the CG ones of Kung Fu Hustle are good, imho.

[Weadazoid]

He looks god far better then Routh ...LOL

[FlameHead]

Which he sold a while ago.

You're right on the tatoo though. He loves this character and should do it justice.

I'm not too familiar with Ghost Rider. But can he just change into Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider whenever he wants?

Nope. Johnny never had that power. Dan Ketch was able to control the transformation slightly as the comic developed. For Johnny, it started out with him only changing into GR at night but later it was developed that GR was taking over the possession more and more often... with Blaze fighting it as much as he could.

I think when he has sold his soul to the devil...and he gets the flaming skull...Nic Cages acting limitations will probably be similar to Andy Serkis' (Gollum/Smeagol) in LOTR.

He's not going to be Ghost Rider for that long. Most of the story is about Blaze and not Ghost Rider and therefor Cage will likely be seen more than the flamey headed character.

Yes, he'll likely do a lot of the digital choreography as well.

[FlameHead]

Yes, I am a girl.

Awesome. I didn't know you were a female. You don't have cooties do you? Ha. I kill myself.

I don't think I've met a Ghost Rider fan of the opposite sex before either.

Really wierd. The first official Superman and the first official Ghost Rider pics are released. The Ghost Rider one is better. WTF?

That is weird. They seem to be on very similar paces... so much that they seem to be competing with each other more than they really have too.

Doesn't it kinda suck that the first pic of the Hellcycle got overshadowed right away by the release of the Superman "S" logo, and now this pic of Blaze is all but forgotten as everyone goes into a frenzy over the Routh-in-Supes-costume pic?

I'd laugh very hard if Ghost Rider ends up being the more popular movie.

Where Super-Man has so many die hard fans, it's gonna be critisized much more than Ghost Rider's movie. Ghost Rider has room to surprise people and therefor does have than chance of being more popular.

I do hate that Supermans' news seem to outweigh Ghost Rider's though.

You know, I hope they pull of the skull effect well, because I can't think of a movie where the skulls were done well. Most come off cartoony.

I'm really worried about the look of the skull as well. There really hasn't been a good one, you're right. CGI will be tested once again.

[crystal_flame6]

You have now, Biggun.Maybe MSJ will ask us what we think of ideas that he might be able to tell us, since we are his "fans he is in contact with".

[HighVoltage]

Where Super-Man has so many die hard fans, it's gonna be critisized much more than Ghost Rider's movie. Ghost Rider has room to surprise people and therefor does have than chance of being more popular.


Well said about GR.:ghost: :ghost: :up: :up:

[crystal_flame6]

MSJ did say that Nic is everything he could have asked for and more for GR.

[crystal_flame6]

I can't wait to see a good picture of Ghost Rider.

[dpm07]

Nicholas Cage is a very gifted thespian who can rise to the occasion and perform incredible acts of acting. He will do this with the utmost respect it deserves in keeping with the Marvel character of Ghost Rider. I personally have complete confidence in his portrayal to provide us with an excellent film depicting the nature of the being Ghost Rider.

[FlameHead]

Just like everyone else in this section of the hype... and beyond!

I'd say it'll be a while yet, considering most of it will be CGI and that wont be done until the scene has been filmed. I'm sure they are test images and what not out there we can see though.

Well said about GR.:ghost: :ghost: :up: :up:

Thank you.

[Alexander]

Uh...


http://i.somethingawful.com/inserts/articlepics/photoshop/05-06-05-superman/uftheory.jpg

[BIGGUN]

lol...he needs to wear some black leather pants or grey jeans over those tights. GR looks a little effeminate wearin those...heh

[HighVoltage]

lol...he needs to wear some black leather pants or grey jeans over those tights. GR looks a little effeminate wearin those...heh

Cool Image(Hahahahahttp://www.superherohype.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gifhttp://www.superherohype.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)

[crystal_flame6]

I like the gauntlets. Looks like GR needs to go shopping and quit copying Batman's style 'cause it doesn't suit him very well. Like a fish in the cat's food bowl.

[Exabyte]

Well, I can tell you where all the Manip talent isn't.

[DarkHellRider]

Uh...


http://i.somethingawful.com/inserts/articlepics/photoshop/05-06-05-superman/uftheory.jpg


Lose the tights get soem jeans or black leather and lose the cape and I will be happy

[DarkHellRider]

i know realize why the sight is called something awfull

[crystal_flame6]

Good point. It should say "Things the trash can rejects" though.

[yoshimitsu89]

i cant wait to c the making of ghost rider...if they have one coming on TV....:D

[FlameHead]

Nic indeed is a fantastic actor, one of the best and I'm sure he would appreciate your faith in him. I have the same faith at this time, even though I didn't when I first heard the news of him being Blaze.

Go Nic Go.

[Elektra_Kirigi]

Considering how much Nick Actualy loves the Ghost rider comics I don't think he is going to slack through this role.

Nick is realy the first actor who has an avid love of the character he will be portraying

Um.... Jenn = Elektra comic con presentation and ALL of her INTERVIEWS THAT STATE "I WOULD PLAY HER EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK AND TWICE ON SUNDAYS" ring a bell?

[FlameHead]

They have one what coming on TV? A show about the making of Ghost Rider? Is it like a 30 minute special or something? Is it only in Australia? Hmmm... must find out more.

Welcome to the hype yoshimitsu! Visit us again soon.

[FlameHead]

Jenn and her 'Biscuit' can stay outta Marvel's offices forever for all I care. I believe she's a false fan of the character.

[yoshimitsu89]

One of my friends told me that Ghost rider was shot in melbourne's collins. st!! DAMN i missed out on it!! BETTZ LUCK NEXT TIME I SUPPOSE

[yoshimitsu89]

I heard it was only shot in Australia, but i don't know exactly. I don't even know if there having a speical making of Ghost Rider, we'll have to wait and see!!

[RedIsNotBlue]

Source (http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire2005/index.php?category=0&id=31075)

Nicolas Cage, who said he was fine with the effects work on the Marvel adaptation. "I've always enjoyed working with effects," Cage said. "To me, it's just stimulating to be around it, to participate. ... After the production is finished shooting here, I want to go to where they're working on the effects and say hello and see what they're doing with all the painting and how they're going to make the fire work, because fire is, you probably know, the most difficult of all the digital effects to pull off. We've managed to really put a great deal of humor [in it]. That came naturally to me. I think that heavy material is inherently -- I know this is going to sound strange -- but it can lend itself very easily to humor. Because I think people, when they're in heavy occupations, you look at paramedics or cops, they have the blackest humor. But it's a way of coping with the situation."

[BIGGUN]

nice find Red ....just hope they dont overboard w/ the humor. if its balanced right it can work...too much and its camp city.

[FlameHead]

Excellent find indeed...

I just finished watching Blade: Trinity, which ties in nicely with your comment BG. That was quite a turn to the humorous side and I hope it doesn't carry on to the Ghost Rider movie.

Comic relief is fine, perfect but any more is camp overkill.

So, Cage is gonna 'oversee' the project to the very end eh?

[Bathrat]

I'm feeling more confident with Cage now

[BIGGUN]

I just finished watching Blade: Trinity, which ties in nicely with your comment BG. That was quite a turn to the humorous side and I hope it doesn't carry on to the Ghost Rider movie.



yeah...i agree w/ ya on Trinity as well. that was such a wasted opportunity imo. Goyer completely blew that one.
Still im curious on how the tv series will come out...if it does get made of course. hopefully it will be better than Trinity...heh

from the interview w/ Cage it sounds like they may go for some dark/black humor
...if thats the case im fine w/ it. just no "wacky slapstick" moments w/ some goofy sidekick that gets in GRs way whenever hes about to deliver some vengeance on someone. that would tick me off to no end :mad:

[Hollywood Ghost]

rob shneider should be in this as a convict that johnny blaze meets and teams up with.
that whould rool

[FlameHead]

I'm sure there'll be something like that on the DVD for sure. Other than that, I don't know.

From what we know, so far, the movie has only been shot in Australia. I'm sure some pick ups and what not will be filmed back in the states, or wherever the post production will be happening. That of couse depends on what the pick ups may be.

[FlameHead]

yeah...i agree w/ ya on Trinity as well. that was such a wasted opportunity imo. Goyer completely blew that one.
Still im curious on how the tv series will come out...if it does get made of course. hopefully it will be better than Trinity...heh

from the interview w/ Cage it sounds like they may go for some dark/black humor
...if thats the case im fine w/ it. just no "wacky slapstick" moments w/ some goofy sidekick that gets in GRs way whenever hes about to deliver some vengeance on someone. that would tick me off to no end :mad:

As long as they don't let Goyer direct the tv show, I fine with anything they have planned for the TV series. He is producing of course, and probably writting which I'm absolutly fine with. He's brilliant at that side of things. I don't have faith in his directing though.

Of course, I may be placing too much blame on him for the movies bomb. I don't know.

I agree with Black humor as well. Bring it on.

[RedIsNotBlue]

As long as they don't let Goyer direct the tv show, I fine with anything they have planned for the TV series. He is producing of course, and probably writting which I'm absolutly fine with. He's brilliant at that side of things. I don't have faith in his directing though.

Of course, I may be placing too much blame on him for the movies bomb. I don't know.

I agree with Black humor as well. Bring it on.

Goyer tried to take on two roles at one time and he just can't do it. It doesn't mean he sucks it just means he works a lot better with a partner (director). Him and another director usually means a pretty good movie.

[batmaluco]

I think this movie is gonna rock! In spite of I'm a newby in GR, only read a few things in comics, but I'm hyped about this movie so far.

[FlameHead]

True, and I do commend him on his efforts to try something new. I just hope he learn't a lot from this lesson.

Plus, I said it before and I'll say it again, if he had of spent more time on the film itself instead of talking about the film in the forums on BT.com, the movie would have probably been better.

Don't get my wrong, I like the man and I think he's done wonders for the industry, when it comes to comic movies. He just didn't prove to me that he was a director.

[Guyverjay]

rob shneider should be in this as a convict that johnny blaze meets and teams up with.
that whould rool


Please God NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[-Fire-Fly-]

I wanna see him on fire

[FlameHead]

This has nothing to do with Rob but... man, that avatar is hypnotizing.

[FlameHead]

That's not very nice. From what I hear, Nic is a pretty decent guy.

Ha. I kill myself.

[Mike_D]

He looks like Alice Cooper.

[FlameHead]

... with a flaming skull head.

[The Hellrider]

http://www.superherohype.com/news/featuresnews.php?id=3153

Q: When we talked to you at the National Treasure junket you weren't 100 percent sure about this project, whether it was the script or the filmmakers.

Cage: It was always the script. It was always a matter of trying to get the script to a place that I felt comfortable with.

Q:What element did it gain?

Cage: It was mostly different aspects of the effects that I felt were being diminished in earlier drafts and I thought it could be brought up, enhanced so that the movie would be more fun to watch. I just wanted to make sure that they were preserved.

Q: What do you think about the trends of comic book movies?

Cage: Well, I've always thought that the comic book film would be wonderfully entertaining for audiences, because it taps into the fantasy world more than just straight up violence. And I had no doubt when the first Batman came out, because of the title and the character, that was going to be a sensational-- a very exciting movie to watch, combined with the technology that we have today, that you can take these fantasies that many of us grew up on and really bring them to the big screen. You have marvelous entertainment. Comic books to me are modern mythology, and so it taps into all sorts of psychological and soulful levels for audiences in a positive way, in a fantasy element as opposed to blood and guts, gore fests.

Q: Seems like this is a really CGI heavy movie. How is that working?

Cage: I've always enjoyed working with effects. I like any aspect that's creative, and Kevin Mack, who's directing the visual effects, is a very creative man and a very interesting person to talk to. So, to me, it's just stimulating to be around it, to participate. I want to, after the production is finished shooting here, I want to go to where they're working on the effects and say hello and see what they're doing with all the painting and how they're going to make the fire work, because fire is, you probably know, the most difficult of all the digital effects to pull off. Fire and water, but even more so fire.

Q: How have your worked with Mark on developing the character and what input did you have?

Cage: I was concerned that this wasn't sort of your typical hero. I wanted to approach it from the point of view of someone who is beleaguered by this contract of selling his soul to the devil. So if you were somebody that was experiencing a great deal of pain, like in a dental chair you try to relax by listening to dentist's music or things like that, so I'm trying to play Johnny Blaze more in that direction than the hard drinking and smoking bad ass. I'm playing him more as someone who, he's made this deal and he's trying to avoid confronting it, anything he can do to keep it away from him.

Q: Does the stunt riding play into that?

Cage: Yeah. I think anything like that is a form of escape. Also, the stunt riding keeps him connected to his father, who's passed away. So there's a version of being able to keep that relationship going when he's jumping, because that's what his father taught him.

Q: How familiar were you with the different iterations of the character and what appealed to you about him specifically?

Cage: The main thing that appealed to me about the character was that it was dealing with very complicated spiritual issues. And for a comic book, that to me seemed different than all the others. I have a line in the movie that we worked on in the movie where I say I'm the only one that can walk in both worlds. And Ghost Rider really is that, when you think about it. Spider-Man doesn't go into the supernatural or the spiritual world. Superman doesn't. Batman doesn't. But Ghost Rider really walks this dimension between two different worlds, and to me that is interesting. I find all that fascinating. I've always had an interest in the possibility of ghosts and the possibility of things that are in the unknown that we don't really comprehend or understand. So that made it more exciting for me. The other idea, that you can take a negative and turn it into a positive. How do you take this terrible mistake of making a deal with the devil and how do you take this curse and turn it into something good? Which, to me is unusual for a comic book based movie. It's a pretty deep concept. And I was reading it when I was 10 years old. So that's pretty heavy stuff for kids to be reading.

Q: Ghost Rider can't exist without violence, so where do you see that element in the film?

Cage: Well, he's the devil's bounty hunter. One of his rules is that he will never take a human being's life. But he will go after demons, other demons, and this movie's loaded with what they call The Hidden, which are these elemental demons that Mephistopheles, or Black Heart, Mephistopheles' son, is using, and so the Ghost Rider goes into battle with them more than the people.

Q: How does he battle them?

Cage: He has these wonderful abilities, like hellfire and the chain that he can use and swing, and then he has the penance stare, where you can look at someone and make them review every bad, horrible thing they've ever done to anybody and then feel it and feel the pain of all their mistakes and sins and basically reduce you to a human jellyfish.

Q: How is it riding the Hell Cycle?

Cage: I only rode the chopper, Grace. And also the stunt cycle. It's a Buell. They're both really terrific. The Hell Cycle, only the Ghost Rider rides that. That's the other thing. His bike transforms too, and turns into a demon hell cycle. But yeah, that's not much of a bike to really ride. You have to really know what you're doing on that. I want to add, though, there is a lot of humor in the movie. We've managed to really put a great deal of humor. Just character building humor. There's the relationship between Johnny Blaze and his best friend, Mack, is an interesting dynamic. Just humor about dealing with the irony of his situation.

Q: How did you prepare physically, mentally or perhaps even spiritually before you took this role?

Cage: Well, I'm not kidding. I was in Africa shooting a movie called Lord of War, and we went to this place in the middle of the desert to shoot for about a week, and -- trying to remember what happened exactly, what was the name of the place?-- anyway, I don't remember the exact name. But there weren't a lot of people there. And I was stuck there and I was driving home in a van, there was a cobra in the road. And I said, Let's back up; let's look at it. So we backed it up and the cobra got up like that on its hind, whatever, it doesn't have legs, but tail, and attacked my car. And I was shocked, and I never got that image out of my head. And then shortly after that, I started eating less portions. I stopped imbibing as much, I didn't go out as much, didn't have as many cocktails. And I just kind of worked out a lot more, and got ready for this role. So I think it had something to do with this cobra.

Q: A near death experience?

Cage: Something like that. Or just, he had this look in his eyes like; you got a lot of responsibility don't blow it. I could take you right now, but I'm here to warn you. Get your ***** together.

Q: Do you remember what your first exposure to comic books was and do you read any today?

Cage: My first experience with comic books was The Incredible Hulk. And I was living in Long Beach, California. I must have been 7 or 8 and I liked the color of it, the imagination of it. I liked the world that I could escape into. And then I started to read plenty of them and look at them. And Ghost Rider, I had the first one. I remember looking at that as well because it was such a marvelous iconic image, this black leather bike rider with a flaming skull for a head. I didn't understand what it was about, but I loved the way it looked. So he was an interesting icon for me. Those are my earliest memories.

Q: How is it working with Peter Fonda?

Cage: It's interesting because when I think of Peter Fonda I think of this 1960s icon. Captain America. But I've been doing this for 25 years, and he's been doing it for 40 years. And it was just odd to me that there's only a 15 year spread, and yet I see him as this 60s icon. And then I thought, wow, but we're not that far apart. It's like, I started to feel thrilled and yeah, thrilled and dated. I felt thrilled and dated.

Q: This might be a semi-personal question. How did it feel to sell your comic book collection?

Cage: Well, I had a bad experience, which, you know; I was-- what's the right thing to say? I was robbed. And they took my best ones. They took Action 1 and Detective 27 and Detective 1. And now today they're worth who knows what. But I thought to myself, because I'm not the kind of person that wants to take comics and leave them in a safe somewhere. I'd rather put them on the wall and really enjoy them and look at them. But after that happened I thought maybe it's better not to own them, just to enjoy them from afar, and I sold them.

Q: That must have been tough to do that.

Cage: You know, it was and it wasn't. I feel like no one really owns anything anyway and it's time for someone else to enjoy them and have them. Now, obviously, whatever I was doing it wasn't good enough because they're missing. So I decided that maybe someone else should have them.

Q: Given how dark the material is, and the fact that you're trying to interpolate some humor into it, how difficult is it to manage those elements?

Cage: That came naturally to me. I think that heavy material is inherently--I know this is going to sound strange--but it can lend itself very easily to humor. Because I think people, when they're in heavy occupations, you look at paramedics or cops, they have the blackest humor. But it's a way of coping with the situation. I guess that's the only way I can answer that. I'm just thinking about what I said before about being thrilled and dated. Yeah, because I was in the 80s. I was doing Valley Girl, and he was doing Captain America in Easy Rider, so I felt we were both somehow symbolic of a time, of a period, of a time capsule.

Q: Are you signed on for sequels?

Cage: That remains to be seen. I'd have to see the movie and see how it comes together.

Q: Can you say something about Next?

Cage: Lee Tamahori is directing, it's based on a Philip K. Dick short story called The Golden Man. I play a man who has the gift of pre-vision. He can see what's going to happen to him very quickly into the future and he's being chased by the FBI so they can put him up on a TV set and help them find bombs and things like that. And he's trying to avoid that from happening to him.

Ghost Rider is currently set for release on August 4, 2006.

[Stripesy Strip]

Pretty Good

I`m not sure what to take off of that interview since Nick Cage`s brain has always been an enigma to me. :joker: I wish it would be an "R" and Ghost Rider would be killing criminals too but I`m gonna see it anyway.

[The Hellrider]

I like the way things are going. Cage is a big name, and he seems really into the character. Plus, it's cool that he's staying involved with it even after filming has wrapped.

GR won't be a huge-ass blockbuster (prove me wrong, pleeze!), but early vibes make me think it'll be at least a moderate success.

This interview came at a good time. I was wondering when we'd get something else, I was getting hungry.

Now gimme a pic of GR himself....I'll be happy till September, at least^^

[Stripesy Strip]

Yea we want a pick!

When is this movie coming out?

[The Hellrider]

Yea we want a pick!

When is this movie coming out?

I think....August 2006?

Is it still August? Christ, it's late, I can't remember. I'm pretty sure that's right, though.

Someone more clear-headed will confirm soon, I'm sure.

[Tissues]

That's a pretty good interview and it says August 4, 2006 at the bottom of it..

[The Hellrider]

That's a pretty good interview and it says August 4, 2006 at the bottom of it..

LMAO, did I mention it was late? heh....

My screws are loose.......whoooo....

[InVictus]

So Nic confirms that GR doesn't kill human beings, good, that rule make it a more interesting character, and makes some ligh on its actual powers..strangely he didn't mentioned the shotgun...i think maybe that's only a way JB, at the end of the movie, shows he fights as human, in total control of the GR powers(hellfire in form of a shotgun...).

[Red Mask]

The interview is encouraging. I like his input on the character. With any luck he can deliver what he said.

[Fettstyl]

..strangely he didn't mentioned the shotgun..

Yes
I found that encouraging :up:
Maybe it won't be that big of a factor after all.
That possibility alone restores some of my hype.

[Screenscribe]

I never had high hopes for this movie and this interview pretty much made up my mind. I can wait for the DVD. When someone who is an actor referes to the FX as the creative force then you know you are in trouble. I was hanging on to the hope that there would be character and story. But nope. Sounds like nothing but cartoon demons fighting. Thats fine for after school but it alienates the movie going audience. There is nothing to connect them to this character. He should be going after people, not make believe monsters that no one can identify with. another monster XF laden mess. I haven't even gotten the bad taste of Star Wars out of my mouth yet

[Superman4ever]

Have you guys seen this image on the interview page?

http://comingsoon.net/nextraimages/grsetcageint4.jpg

Is it official or fan-art?

I haven't seen it before so I thought I'd ask! :D

[Tarnish]

I think I like the stance Cage is taking with the character of Blaze not being so much a bad @$$ as simply trying to come to terms with the condition of his soul.

I'm willing to give the movie a chance.

[Master Kenobi]

Great Information!

[BIGGUN]

Have you guys seen this image on the interview page?

http://comingsoon.net/nextraimages/grsetcageint4.jpg

Is it official or fan-art?

I haven't seen it before so I thought I'd ask! :D


yes its official....but its only a promo. that was made a few years ago just to promote the idea of a GR movie. it probably wont be used for either the teaser or the official poster.

[K-pax]

shame. It's pretty badass

[yoshimitsu89]

sorry people, i 4got my password n everything has been stuffed up on my comp, but im bak ... has there been any update since?? Cos i havent been in here for a while

Yoshimistu (yoshi)

[FlameHead]

Yup, that was an awesome interview. I'm really pumped about the Hidden being there. No matter if it has anything to do with the actual Hidden, just the reference is cool.

What was all that crazy stuff about the Cobra? I think Nic's been workin' too hard.

[FlameHead]

I'm not sure when you left but I'm happy that you're back. I'd say there were a few new things discussed in your absense. What they were? I'm not sure.

[citizenpain]

no, i'm just kidding. i just wanted to ask if any of you are actual hardcore nicolas cage fans like me. he's been one of my favorite actors for a while along with... hmmm... ed norton, johnny depp, mena suvari ( :up: ) and blah, blah, blah. anyway, back to nic... he's awesome.

so if you think as highly of the man who's going to be our ghost rider, or even if you don't, answer me this -- what's your favorite nicolas cage movie?

much like michael bolton's songs, i love 'em all. raising arizona, adaptation, amos & andrew, 8mm, the family man, valley girl, face/off, bringing out the dead, matchstick men... yeah, i guess those are my favorites.

can't think of any other movies he's been in that you might have liked? there's also the rock, windtalkers, national treasure (i just saw it last week and i thought it was gonna be cheesy, but it was actually pretty good), gone in sixty seconds, city of angels, con air, moonstruck... okay, **** this. i'm getting tired of listing movies. just tell me which one you dig the most.

[Riding Ghost]

I haven't seen all those you listed, But I saw Face/Off on cable a couple month ago and thought it was pretty good.

[Abe]

my favourite nic cage movie would have to be matchstick men.
but i'm seriously thinking a certain movie about a flamed-skull demon motorcyclist will top it! :)

[Uncanny Orb]

I personally think he's a lousy actor but I liked American Treasure or what ever the last movie was called.

[Super Saiyan]

I'm a fan of Nic.... not hardcore, mind you. But I still like him. I was glad he signed on for the part of Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider.

Oh and, my favorite Nic Cage movie is Face Off (Windtalkers comes in as a close second) :up:

[crystal_flame6]

I see how it is, I leave for a weekend or a week and a new picture or update is added. I like the way GR looks. Except they messed up the chains near his right collar. The leather looks almost see-threw, but other than that, he looks AWSOME!!!!:ghost:

[NicolasCage34]

I am a hardcore nicolas cage fan! =) My favourite Nicolas Cage movie is between Face/off, Con air and gon in sixty seconds!!!!!!!

[Mistopurr83]

I LIKE THE PIC, IT LOOKS LIKE HE'S LOOKING AT SOMEONE WHO PISSED HIM OF AND IS GETTING READY TO UNLEASH HELL!:D :ghost:



http://images.usatoday.com/life/_photos/2005/04/22/inside-comingatt-ghostrider.jpg

That's a great pic!
Before I saw it I was a little worried Nicolas Cage was gonna look too old for Johnny Blaze but thanx to this new pic I now have second thoughts about him. Nicolas Cage is 41 in real life but in that picture he looks 30. The blond hightlights in his hair looks cool too.

[oregondude]

Uh...


http://i.somethingawful.com/inserts/articlepics/photoshop/05-06-05-superman/uftheory.jpg

HAHA, Bryan Singer's Ghost Rider.

[NicolasCage34]

Does any one still use this Thred any more????????????????

[Jesse_Custer]

He'll be fine as GR I'm sure.

[FlameHead]

That's a great pic!
Before I saw it I was a little worried Nicolas Cage was gonna look too old for Johnny Blaze but thanx to this new pic I now have second thoughts about him. Nicolas Cage is 41 in real life but in that picture he looks 30. The blond hightlights in his hair looks cool too.

I agree, that hair looks great... even if it is fake. In fact, Cage looks great all over. His body shape right now is perfect for the Ghost Rider costume.

[BURNFOREVER]

I agree, that hair looks great... even if it is fake. In fact, Cage looks great all over. His body shape right now is perfect for the Ghost Rider costume.

I feel the same.
Always been against Nicolas Cage as Johnny Blaze. My choices would be Brad Pitt, Paul Walker or even Viggo Mortensen.
But at the same time i hope he makes a fantastic work and make us all very proud.
And came that pic of him in the bike.
Man, it´s great. He seems younger and angry, very.
Fake hair? So what?
Arnold has fake hair in Conan.
Orlando Bloom in LOTR.
Brad Pitt in Troy.
Colin Farrell in Alexander.
And the list goes.
Not a big deal.

[FlameHead]

Not a big deal at all.

I like it because it because it's more Dan Ketch than Johnny Blaze.

[FlameHead]

Update from here: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0508/20/ghostrider.htm

Question: Eva, how was it to work with Nicolas Cage?

Mendes: It was really great. He has got flair, that man, He can pull off anything. He really can. This might shallow, but I love the way he dresses. Have you seen the way he dresses? He's like the coolest cat on the planet. He can pull off something nobody else can.

I found him to be really warm and just so incredible talented -- and really, really funny too.

Johnson: Nic has said himself that playing Johnny Blaze is the closest he's ever been to playing himself. And so it was intereting that even during costume fittings, we'd go to his hosue and we kept saying, "What's in your closet?" and we kept pulling his biker jacket, his biker pants and motorcyle boots. He's got the Ghost Rider tattoo. He is Johnny Blaze in a lot of ways.

Mendes: Yeah, it's really cool. He actually has a tattoo of Ghost Rider on his arm.

[Indydude]

I am a fan of nicholas cage, but I cant see him as ghost rider, I dont think he would be good for the part.

[CConn]

You do realize the movie has already been filmed, right? -zer00

[zer00]

You do realize the movie has already been filmed, right? -zer00

:mad: :up:
:marv: :down
:confused:

[Seeker]

Why not? He´s a comic book nut, he rides bikes, his receding hairline makes his head look an awful lot like a skull...

[FlameHead]

I just seen this on ET and looked for the info online (found a link from IGR to IMDB; http://www.digitalentropy.net/Internapse/GRMain.html)

Cage Donates Cash to New Orleans Neighbors
Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage has donated $1 million of his own cash to relief efforts residents of New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina. The Leaving Las Vegas star, who has a home in the hard-hit Louisiana city, made the donation yesterday to the American Red Cross. In a statement, his publicist, Annett Wolf, says, "(Cage) wishes to help his neighbours during this most devastating time."

Now, if only he'd turn into Ghost Rider and kick those people's asses who are causin' havok in an already ravaged place.

[FlameHead]

So, Nic Cage was at a Pearl Jam show. Their opening show for the Canadian Tour actually, in Vancouver. Man, I find this so freakin' awesome. The guy who's portrayin' my favorite character in the Marvel universe is a Pearl Jam fan... which is something else I'm obsessed with. I'm so freakin' pumped for the show they are doing here in St. John's, Newfoundland.

What a small world with Cage though eh? Here's an article about it, from here, http://www.straight.com/content.cfm?id=12690

Pearl Jam

By deena cox

Publish Date: 8-Sep-2005

At GM Place on Friday, September 2

Perhaps as an apology for backing down in its much-publicized battle with Ticketmaster, Pearl Jam gives its fans more show for their buck than most multiplatinum acts. This could be in response to the ever-inflating price of going to gigs, or it could be that the aging bladders of the boys synonymous with the Seattle Sound can now only expand so far and that triple-encore shows are really a ruse for bathroom breaks. Whatever the reason, the capacity crowd at GM Place last Friday crossed their legs and clenched for nearly three hours while the grunge survivors blazed through an impressive, if predictable, set punctuated with hits, sing-alongs, and anti-Bush innuendoes.

After so many years together, Pearl Jam—Eddie Vedder (vocals), Soundgarden alumnus Matt Cameron (drums), Jeff Ament (bass), Mike McCready (guitar), and Stone Gossard (guitar)—is as tight as Kurt Cobain’s favourite rubber tourniquet. Consequently, the band delivered tracks like “Better Man”, “Daughter”, and “Alive” with both metronomic precision and an enthusiasm its opener, the Supersuckers, could learn from. With celebrity guest Nicolas Cage planted ringside, Vedder visibly fed off the energy of the audience, including those disadvantaged last- minute types seated behind the stage. The band beat the **** out of 29 songs—well, 30 if you include the “Hello Wolfgang” sequence that followed “Daughter”. Wolfgang, one assumes, is the unborn son of Cage and his ready-to-blow pregnant waitress, er, wife, Alice Kim. Vedder said the show could technically be counted as the kid’s first and insisted the assembled say hello, all together, several times over and over. While proof that babies make people do weird things, this touchy-feely moment was also good fodder for the Vancouver edition of the official bootleg downloads available from the band’s Web site shortly after each show.

Throughout the evening, the crowd followed Vedder’s lead, screaming songs line for line in an I-know-all-the-words karaoke bonanza that climaxed during the encores. Some cupped their hands around their mouths in a vain challenge to the dangling banks of megawatt speakers; air guitarists scrabbled in the air with their fingers trying to keep up with McCready and Gossard. The majority, however, simply stood and marvelled at the intense, sonic symbiosis that filled the Garage.

The night was dotted with the usual pro-Canada, isn’t-Vancouver-beautiful mutterings from Vedder, until the shorn-no-more singer referenced recent stateside events in an ad-libbed version of “Wishlist”, declaring: “I wish I came from a country that never went to war/Wish I came from a country that helped its poor”. Welcome to Canada, Eddie, the land of poutine, potent beer, and universal health care—well, what’s left of it.

Also, check out this pic of PJ stickers... particularly the top middle one. Think Pearl Jam are Ghost Rider fans?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y81/GoBucky/stickers.jpg

[NDX]

Would get that sticker had it not have Pearl Jam scrolled across it. Had no idea they were still around.

At least he has some musical sense.

[FlameHead]

You had no idea that Pearl Jam were still around? Wow. What rock were you living under? I say this only because I'm a HUGE fan.

[NDX]

Actually, it's a sewer lid, not a rock.

I prefer metal and noise. Pearl Jam is the least of my musical worries. Last I heard of them was their live concert series of cds they had, I think, either '02 or '03.

[BURNFOREVER]

Pearl Jam?!

With all respect... NO!

The 90´s are gone, so are the "grunge hype".

Please, no.

Slipknot are the 21st century sound. Just an exemple.

[FlameHead]

To each their own; that's what I say.

Pearl Jam has evolved far beyond the 'grunge hupe' by the way...

[Mr Nick]

Think there's a chance of them doing a song for the movie then? After all, Nic Cage has been a driving force behind the film. Maybe they had a little chat after the show.:confused:

[FlameHead]

No change. That will not happen. I mean, I would love for it to happen and probably would have one of those heart attack things if it did but, it won't happen. It could happen for one of Nic's other flicks but... probably not Ghost Rider.

[FlameHead]

Here's a little piece I found about GR here; http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1509595/story.jhtml

Nothin' special but, it's something...

Nicolas Cage hasn't seen the first image of his flaming skull in the upcoming film "Ghost Rider" yet, but the actor recently said he counts himself among those who can't wait for the heavily anticipated release of his first official superhero film. "What I like about Ghost Rider is, he works in both worlds," he said. Although once considered for a "Superman" movie, Cage added that it is the motorcycle-riding demon who holds a special place in his heart. "This is a unique take on a superhero that I haven't seen before. I have a soft spot for comic books, for me, because they taught me how to read. When I was a youngster I would read comics, and I was fascinated by the stories that they had." The adventures of Johnny Blaze and his ignited alter ego will hit movie theaters in July 2006.

[RedIsNotBlue]

Source (http://www.iesb.net/sony2005/092505.php)

Q: Did you find it challenging or intimidating to step into a character that people already know and has a set story and were you a fan of that character or have you read the comic book to research it?

NC: Well, it was simple, it may sound strange but I am Ghost Rider. (laughing) So it wasn’t that challenging to do that, I had all the honest, you know, ways of expressing that character and it will be interesting to see how the audience responds to that character.

Q: Why are you Ghost Rider?

NC: Well he’s a man who’s just trying to take a negative and turn it into a positive like we all do, we have been talking about that here today together with the Weatherman, trying to take movies and do something positive with any negative feelings that I have. Johnny Blaze is a superhero who had a very horrible thing happen to him and he’s taking that negative and he’s trying to make something positive out of it no matter what and um, that’s, in that way I guess you can say I am like Ghost Rider.

[Abe]

MSJ did say Nic Cage was nuts for GR, and I guess that interview confirms it.
Dank! :)

[Mr Nick]

The man clearly loves the character. I think it's a bit harsh for fans to blast him for not knowing what was happening in all the stories. Neither did I, to tell you the truth, but I still call myself a fan. I know he'll be great.

Funny, he must be the only actor to ever lose weight to play a superhero.

:ghost:

[RedIsNotBlue]

The man clearly loves the character. I think it's a bit harsh for fans to blast him for not knowing what was happening in all the stories. Neither did I, to tell you the truth, but I still call myself a fan. I know he'll be great.

Funny, he must be the only actor to ever lose weight to play a superhero.

:ghost:

Well Thomas Jane did the opposite. He put on somewhere between 20 to 40 pounds of muscle for the Punisher.

[Abe]

From what I've seen online and on the sets, Nic Cage is going to thrill audiences with the release of this movie.
If you can download the comiccon footage, check out all the skeletons in the foreground and background. I think people will be surprised to see Nic Cage in a horror film.

[Caliber]

Nick Cage loves the character and if my memory is right, he talked about playing the character before he got the role. I believe hes going to kick ass as GR and maybe we'll get to see a sequal if people give this a chance.

[citizenpain]

yeah, nic cage has been talking about ghost rider forever. he's obviously just as excited as we are to finally see him on the big screen. i was actually watching con air last night and i was like WHOA, dave chapelle is in? i totally forgot about that. as cheesy as that movie was, it was a lot of fun. cage, cusask, malkovich, and buscemi... how can you go wrong with that? anyway, back to the ghost rider... i firmly belive nic cage when he says he IS the ghost rider. i think his performance is going to be excellent.

[Louie_19_Tx_]

and the movie has been in talk's for year's and cage was alway's supost to be attacth to the film

[Uncanny Orb]

it may sound strange but I am Ghost Rider.
OK.... I hope he doesn't do something silly like light his head on fire.:ghost:

[BHD]

he sounded pompous.....but then again i was never a nic cage fan so dont listen to me

[blades_shades]

No mention of Ghost Rider except kind of in the headline.

Issue date:
May 30-June 1, 1997



The unlikeliest action hero

Offbeat Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage is pumped to star in two summer action films. Just don't expect the usual cardboard cutouts.

By Mary Roach


http://usaweekend.com/97_issues/970601/images/970601cov2_st_cage.jpg A decade of Cage roles

http://usaweekend.com/images/blue_bull.gif Con Air: (http://us.imdb.com/M/title-exact?Con+Air+(1997)) Cage plays an about-to-be-released prisoner on a plane that is hijacked by other prisoners. In theaters June 7.
http://usaweekend.com/images/blue_bull.gifThe Rock: (http://us.imdb.com/M/title-exact?Rock%2C+The+(1996)) Cage flexed his action muscle with Sean Connery in this '96 release.
http://usaweekend.com/images/blue_bull.gifLeaving Las Vegas: (http://us.imdb.com/M/title-exact?Leaving+Las+Vegas+(1995)) Cage won an Oscar for his portrayal of an alcoholic in this 1995 drama.
http://usaweekend.com/images/blue_bull.gifMoonstruck: (http://us.imdb.com/M/title-exact?Moonstruck+(1987)) Audiences and the Oscars loved Cage with Cher in 1987.
http://usaweekend.com/images/blue_bull.gifRaising Arizona: (http://us.imdb.com/M/title-exact?Raising+Arizona+(1987)) Holly Hunter and Cage were loopy kidnappers in this '87 comedy from the Coen brothers.

http://usaweekend.com/images/initials/t.gifhe shortest distance between a T-bone steak and Nicolas Cage is 3 miles. That's the distance between Cage's downtown L.A. apartment and the Pacific Dining Car, a steakhouse famous for its colossal cuts and a pair of life-size plastic steers that hang from the sign. Mr. Cage wants to "eat big." His stomach is doing King Kong. The plastic steers fear for their lives.

To achieve steak, Cage, 33, is taking extreme measures. We're driving in a black 1994 Lamborghini (one of two Lamborghinis Cage owns, along with a Ferrari and a '67 Corvette Stingray, among other cars).

I would not have taken Nicolas Cage (Moonstruck, Raising Arizona) for a red meat and hot rod kind of guy. This is a man who reads Dostoevski and collects art glass. Who won an Oscar for a wrenching portrayal of a screenwriter bent on drinking himself to death. Who wooed his wife with a black orchid and a J.D. Salinger autograph.

Then again, this is also the man who has starred in three action movies in a row, bing-bang-boom: last year's The Rock and this week's Con Air, a Jerry Bruckheimer production that pits Cage against a planeload of death-row convicts, and later this month Face/Off, a John Woo shoot-'em-up-blow-'em-up co-starring John Travolta. He's also signed to be the next Superman. What gives?

Over the tumult of raging rpms, I ask Cage why, after winning a Best Actor Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas, he chose to go into action movies. "I wanted to try something new," he says. "I wanted to try to do the work that I've been doing, but apply it to a new genre of film. I wanted to do a hero with imperfections and flaws, things people can get in step with."

Rather than take his Con Air character, Cameron Poe, as it was handed to him, Cage refashioned him. Poe is a freshly paroled convict trying to get home in time for his daughter's birthday. He gets a lift on a Con Air flight, whose cargo consists of the seven baddest cons in the joint. The criminals, being transferred to a higher-security prison, attempt a hijack along the way. Cage changed Poe from a street fighter to an ex-Army ranger. "I had to make this man seem plausible as someone who could survive a situation that's incredibly dangerous," he says. "Also, I wanted to bring in a spiritual concept, which I hadn't seen in action movies." Cage's ideas met with resistance, but he prevailed. "I managed to stick to my guns. I'm proud of the character. I watch Con Air and I think: 'I made this guy. I got some clay together, and I built him.' "

Some of that clay came from Folsom Prison, where Cage went to research his role. "He talked to the guys there," recalls Bruckheimer, "picked up on the accents, the hair. Then he said to me, 'I'm going to be a cross between Elvis and Gregg Allman.' " Producers and directors have come to expect the unexpected from Cage. He once modeled a character's voice (for Peggy Sue Got Married) after the voice of Gumby's horse, Pokey, and another time from the voiceover of a L'egg's pantyhose ad. "Nick is the definition of the spirit of play," says Travolta. "He lives with his creativity in high gear."

At the moment, it's his Lamborghini that's staking a claim on high gear. "What I like about this car," Cage is saying, "is the way it sounds. It has this nice, low animal roar. And then on top of that, high-pitched jet whining sounds." Cage hits the accelerator. It sounds like driver's ed, when the car wants to be in third and you have it in first. And then, on top of that, someone using a hair dryer in the back seat. But what do I know? I drive a '66 Volvo. Cage asks me what model.

He looks pleased. "The Saint!"

"Actually, I call it the Slug."

"No, I mean that's the car the Saint drove, on TV. Great car." (As it turns out, Cage has the Slug confused with a different '66 Volvo.)

Cage prefers the term "enthusiast" to "collector" or "connoisseur." He's not obsessed; he's passionate. About cars, about glass, about cigars and comic-book art and Raymond Loewy model trains. About passion itself. "Passion is very important to me," he says in his measured way. "If you stop enjoying things, you've got to look at it, because it can lead to all kinds of depressing scenarios." Cage has an almost childlike enthusiasm for the good things in life.

Not necessarily the expensive things. He rhapsodizes about the sparkles in old cement sidewalks. He gets excited thinking about "what it feels like to drive to the beach and hear the sound of an engine and feel the sunlight on my face." He attributes his passionate nature to his father, August Coppola, a literature professor and brother of film director Francis Ford Coppola. (Wishing to be judged on his own merits, Nicolas dropped the Coppola name; "Cage" comes from a comic-book hero, Luke Cage.) "My father was always getting excited about something," Cage says. "It's genetically inside me somewhere."

Outside the Pacific Dining Car, Cage eyes a team of parking valets. "I wonder if they'll let me just park here."

"You're Nicolas Cage," I remind him. "You're driving a Lamborghini. You can park anywhere you want to."

"Well, I just, you know, I don't want to ..." The valet knocks on his window. Cage's end of the conversation sounds like Jimmy Stewart on a low self-esteem day: "Oops, hello. OK. All right. Oh, over there? Thank you, thank you." Earlier, I asked him how he'd describe himself if he were writing a personals ad. He thought for a while, and then he said: "Trying to do the right thing."

Where his family is concerned, that means respecting their privacy. He has made it clear: no questions about his wife, son or parents. Because I'm a journalist and I'm paid to do the wrong thing, I'll tell you what I know. In 1995 Cage married actress Patricia Arquette, eight years after walking up to her in an L.A. deli and proclaiming -- having never met or heard of her -- that one day she would be his wife. In the intervening years (the two dated only briefly the first time around), both Arquette and Cage had children with other people. Cage and ex-girlfriend Christina Fulton, also an actress, share custody of 6- year-old Weston. Cage himself had an atypical childhood. His mother, a modern dancer and choreographer, was hospitalized on and off for depression, leaving Cage's father to raise the children.

The T-bone is served. Cage picks up his knife. "I'm going in now." The meat is red inside, a half-shade shy of raw. "Sometimes," he drawls, "I just like 'em to run it through a warm room."

In his jeans and T-shirt, cutting into a steak, he could be any guy, just a Regular Joe eating dinner. I decide to give him a quick Regular Joe test. "So, Nick, do you own any power tools?"

"Power tools ..."

"You know, like a saw."

"Sure, yeah, I have a saw, yes. A hand saw." He has a funny look on his face, like maybe he plays it instead of using it to cut wood. "I use it to make wood objects with my son." No power tools.

Question 2: Does he turn to the sports page first? He doesn't. "The word 'sports' has always given me anxiety," Cage says. "I was the guy, when they had the lineup in school, who wasn't picked. So I've got a problem with sports."

Cage passes Item 3 (Name two or more actors on Baywatch), but Item 4 (Own a dog?) is questionable. It's a Chinese crown-crested hairless.

"Any other pets?"

"Well, my ... I, um, I have an octopus. And a boa constrictor."

Shades of another Nicolas Cage, the impulsive bad boy of the mid-'80s. It seems to me you buy an octopus for the same reason you smash a ketchup bottle against the wall on a date, or trash a studio trailer, or eat a live cockroach (all previous Cage antics). To get attention. To make an impression. To show off.

Cage looks hurt. "It's for Weston. Weston likes animals. I do, too. I like octopuses. I can't help it."

Cage freely admits that his behavior in his early 20s was something of a put-on, an attempt to generate a mythology around himself. "I wanted to make an image for myself as an outlaw type. A kind of rock 'n' roll sensibility."

The octopus is one of many sea creatures Cage houses in an aquarium at his house in the hills above L.A. I relate the story of my own aquarium. When I was around 14, I got tired of cleaning it and flushed the fish down the toilet. Cage stops chewing. "You flushed your fish down the toilet?" He resumes chewing. "Who am I to judge?" A minute goes by. He can't let it go. "It isn't the best thing to do to your animals, is it? I mean, you could have returned them to the pet store, probably."

"I'm sorry. Now I feel bad."

Cage's eyes are on his plate. "We all do things we wish we hadn't done."

As far as one person can know another in the space of two hours, Cage seems to me an earnest and well-intentioned individual. "Gracious, genuine and artistic" is how Travolta describes him. A thinking man, a man with a conscience. He refuses to pose with a gun in movie posters. It pains him to be thought of as beefcake. He almost seems ashamed of his muscles. "In Con Air, the body is a character," he explains. "I play a man who works out to survive." Cage mentions a recent article that describes him on the set of The Rock telling the director, "I want to rip my shirt off and show my pecs ..." Cage frowns. "I didn't say that. I've never used the words 'my pecs.' "

As much as Cage loves what he does, it seems to bother him that acting doesn't, ultimately, matter, that it's not "necessary." He tells me he's often wondered whether, if mankind colonized another planet, actors would be "one of the select few on the rocket." He shakes his head. "I don't think we would be. I think it'd be scientists and farmers and such."



Here's another character test for Cage: What do you do with a reporter who's parked her car in a lot that closed a half-hour ago? We try the gate. It's locked. Cage thinks a moment. "Well, you want to stay at my apartment?"

So I slept in Nicolas Cage's bed. He slept in a different bed, on the other side of town, where his house and his wife and his octopus are. The apartment is strictly a pied à terre for interviews and entertaining. Personal effects are as scarce as food. (Sum total of kitchen cabinet contents: Glenlivet scotch, Hershey's chocolate sauce, Pam cooking spray.) The walls are mauve; the carpet, faux leopard skin. We learn he has, in the heartless words of Phytorhum Shampoo, "lifeless" hair. A note signed "The Wife" pronounces him yummy. I take a copy of The Rock from a cabinet of videos and curl up on Cage's sofa, a green leather behemoth that turns corners and takes no guff. Cage's acting may not be necessary, but it sure makes for an entertaining evening.



San Francisco-based Mary Roach last wrote for USA WEEKEND about Tom Cruise.

[RedIsNotBlue]

Nicolas Cage Names Baby Kal-el
Source: Bill
October 3, 2005


The Associated Press reports that Nicolas Cage, who can be seen in next year's Ghost Rider, has named his new baby boy Kal-el, which is the name of the last son of Krypton... Superman.

His wife, Alice Kim Cage, gave birth Monday to a boy, Kal-el Coppola Cage, in New York City, said Cage's Los Angeles-based publicist, Annett Wolf. No other details were available.

"They are healthy and happy and it's quite lovely," Wolf said by phone from New York.

[Uncanny Orb]

What a nerd.

[FlameHead]

Is this for real? I though he was namin' him Wolfgang...

Kal-El? Wow...

[Compi716]

WOAH!!!

That's crazy. But really cool, too. Kal-El Cage does have a nice ring to it, though I'm sure people will simply call him "Kal."

[NDX]

The name sounds Israeli. That or my friend is just the last daughter of Krypton.

[zer00]

That....is awesome.:up:

[Vartha]

Well I'm sure it's better than Zarathos. :D

[zer00]

It would be cool. If a school bully that he fought with was named Zod.

[Vartha]

lol You never know what people are going to name thier kids, I mean look at the Frank Zappa kids lol

[Jamie Madrox]

I don't know, that sounds kinda dumb. Clark would've been better, but Kal-El Cage sounds weird. He's such a big fan of Ghost Rider, why didn't he name his kid Johnny? Johnny Cage would be a rad name! ;)

[Uncanny Orb]

I'm actually a little suprised he didn't go with the obvious, Luke Cage.

[Abe]

uncanny orb, i said the same thing when i read the news.
his not the first person to name their child after superman. karl kesel (writer for DC) named one of his son's Kal-El, and even had him drawn into the wedding scene when Clark married Lois.
personally i think it's a terrific name.

[Mr Nick]

I dunno. It's better than 'Apple', I suppose.

That poor kid is going to get so much stick in the playground. Couldn't he have compromised and just called him Kal?
:eek:

[FlameHead]

It's just weird though....

[citizenpain]

how is it weird? celebs have been giving their kids the strangest names for a long time now. and kal-el coppola cage sounds majorly badass...

[Chris Wallace]

Not really. It's a name that may very well bring him many a pummelling in the schoolyard.
I think Nic has gone overboard. To take his own name from a comic book is one thing, but don't do that to your kids. They've gotta grow up. They're gonna have to put the name you give them on credit applications. And who knows-maybe little Kal won't grow up to be an actor. Give your kids a name they can say with dignity.

[Jamie Madrox]

I'm actually a little suprised he didn't go with the obvious, Luke Cage.

Yeah, I kinda figured that'd be the most obvious choice too. He was a fan of Luke Cage when he was younger, but I don't know if he is now though.

[citizenpain]

yeah, i'm sure nic cage's son is gonna go to a totally public school where he's going to get pummeled every day for being named kal-el. rrright. nic has gone overboard? wtf are you talking about man? why are you discussing this like it's the end of the world? oh no, not a credit application! damn man, it's just a name. chillax.

also, he already took from luke cage when creating his own stage name... CAGE instead of coppola.

[RedIsNotBlue]

I don't see what the big deal is. I mean the guy playing Lex Luthor's lackey's real name is Kal (which is probably what the kid will go by anyway.)

[marvelisawesome]

man thats like the coolest thing someone cool has done.

[Crowley9]

There was that firefighter who legally changed his name to Optimus Prime...

[Uncanny Orb]

Optimus Prime LOL.
People are kookie, no doubt.

[citizenpain]

hey, it's better than being just another bob or steve. but it's not as extreme as the guy who used to be the ultimate warrior actually changing his first name to warrior. that dude was a lil' kookie fo sho.

[Matt Murdock]

Kind of stupid.Kal-El? With him being such a GR fan,I'd figured he would've named him Johnny or Danny Cage.Or maybe something like Johnny Danny Cage.Hmmmm......


But eh,can't say I blame him.When I have a baby and if it's a boy,I'm naming him Logan or Matt.:o

[Cole Burns]

I'm a little surprised nobody has said it yet but I'm sure we are all thinking it....

Congratulations to Nick and his wife on the birth of lil Kal-El and its awesome to hear mother and son are doing well. There can't be many things more nerve-racking in life then waiting for the arrival of a baby, so its good to know they have come through it with a healthy baby boy. All the best.


Now that been said, does anyone really believe that bullies will pick on Kal once they find out his dad is Ghost Rider! :ghost:

[Uncanny Orb]

True Dat!

[Spaz350]

Could be a lot worse, I heard Jermaine Jackson named his firstborn son Jermajesty!

Besides, at least Kal-El is a suerhero's name, he could have been Mephistopheles Cage...

[Wakandan_Devil]

Look at David Hayter(Solid Snake) He named his daughter after Natasha Romanov a.k.a The Black Widow.

[Sam Fisher]

I'm sure "Kal-El" will want a name change when he grows up.

[spider-jide]

how is it weird? celebs have been giving their kids the strangest names for a long time now. and kal-el coppola cage sounds majorly badass...


What would be ironic is if he grows up to be a pu$$y.

[RedIsNotBlue]

I'm sure "Kal-El" will want a name change when he grows up.

Nope. He will just go by Kal Cage.

[Robot Komakino]

thats such a cool name.

[BURNFOREVER]

Kal-El is a very cool name.
And of course the kid will not be called Kal-El Cage, Nic´s last name is Copolla, everybody knows that.
Kal-El Copolla... how powerful is that!
Nic Cage is cool.
A guy who have this passion for the comics universe, like myself, have my respect.
But of course i´d like to see his baby called Blaze Copolla.
Wow...
Anyway, best of luck and health to the baby and cheers to our Johnny Blaze!
:up: :ghost:

[TheVileOne]

I think the way celebrities give their kids ridiculous names like this is disgusting.

I'm sorry but Kal-El? God...I mean...really. I guess Cage is still pissed he could never play Superman so he's got to take it out on his baby boy. Cage...don't punish your son for something you were never able to do.

[HighVoltage]

I think the way celebrities give their kids ridiculous names like this is disgusting.

I'm sorry but Kal-El? God...I mean...really. I guess Cage is still pissed he could never play Superman so he's got to take it out on his baby boy. Cage...don't punish your son for something you were never able to do.

Poor Baby.

What a simple & stupid name.

This reminds me to Gwineth Paltrow´s Daughter called Apple.

[Abe]

Worst still, he could've called his son TotalPackage Cage! Bwahahahahahaha!
Ah, all in good fun. :ghost:

[FlameHead]

Hmmm... I just found this here; http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1510963/story.jhtml

With a moniker derived from superhero Luke Cage and a newborn son sharing the name Kal-el with Superman (the Man of Steel's Kryptonian birth name), Nicolas Cage takes his comic books very, very seriously. Appropriately, then, Cage kept July's Marvel flick "Ghost Rider" as loyal to the source material as possible. "It's pretty faithful to the original story line," Cage insisted, saying that the only major change is the death that fuels his mission. "In this case, I believe it's not my girlfriend's father, it's [Johnny Blaze's] father who passes away at the beginning." ...

Um... I'm not sure what he's talkin' about here. It was his father that passed away at the beginning...

[Riding Ghost]

Hmmm... I just found this here; http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1510963/story.jhtml



Um... I'm not sure what he's talkin' about here. It was his father that passed away at the beginning...

In the comics Blaze was adopted by his girlfriends actual dad. Blazes real dad died earlier and had nothing to do with the GR stuff

[FlameHead]

Yes, but I'm wondering if they're changin' Roxanne to be someone other than a Blaze.

And his fathers death does have something to do with it. He would have never been tangled up with the circus or anything if his actual father didn't die. I guess all they're doing is gettin' rid of that part of the story and makin' Barton his father all along.

[Riding Ghost]

Yes, but I'm wondering if they're changin' Roxanne to be someone other than a Blaze.

Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding, I'm just trying to help :) but you do realize Roxannes last name is Simpson

And his fathers death does have something to do with it. He would have never been tangled up with the circus or anything if his actual father didn't die.

good point

I guess all they're doing is gettin' rid of that part of the story and makin' Barton his father all along.

yeah, streamlining, makes sense, and doesn't do any harm really IMO

[FlameHead]

Right, Simpson. My stuipd mixup there... Crash's daughter... which I'm wonderin' if she will be or not in this one?

[Riding Ghost]

Right, Simpson. My stuipd mixup there... Crash's daughter... which I'm wonderin' if she will be or not in this one?

Ah, I see, that is a good question.
I would venture to speculate that since they are not using Crash as Blazes adopted father, that they probably won't address who roxannes father is at all. Guess we'll have to wait and see though.

[FlameHead]

That sounds about right to me.

[FlameHead]

I was watchin' Dave tonight (of the Letterman kind) and Nic was his first guest. He didn't talk about the GR movie but he did mention the comic at one point when talkin' about his son's name w/ Dave.

"I was more of a Marvel guy growin' up. I was into the monsters like Ghost Rider and The Hulk"

Not much... but it's something for this news drought we're now in.

[RedIsNotBlue]

Those talk shows nowadays are so scripted and dull. They give the guests only current topics to discuss and we rarely learn anything new or interesting. So I am not surprised he didn't talk about it.

[Vartha]

Yeah, I agree, when it's this far away from the movie hitting the screens I don't think there'd be too much for Nic to talk about. I can't wait for them to finish more GR transformation sceens, I want to see how they handle Nic's face going from Blaze to GR.

[Mr Nick]

Absolutely! The thing I'm most excited about in the entire film is the transformation.:up:

[blades_shades]

I was watchin' Dave tonight (of the Letterman kind) and Nic was his first guest. He didn't talk about the GR movie but he did mention the comic at one point when talkin' about his son's name w/ Dave.

"I was more of a Marvel guy growin' up. I was into the monsters like Ghost Rider and The Hulk"

Not much... but it's something for this news drought we're now in.

Yeah I saw that. Dave wouldn't stop praising the movie non-stop for 15 minutes eating up all the time. I'm sure Nic would have ellaborated but it's no biggie. We're talking next July for Ghost Rider and Weaterman comes out this Friday.

[FlameHead]

Yeah, Nice isn't on a promo circut for GR yet so he's not going to talk about it yet... much anyway. I'm sure if somebody asked him about it, he would.

Yeah, I agree, when it's this far away from the movie hitting the screens I don't think there'd be too much for Nic to talk about. I can't wait for them to finish more GR transformation sceens, I want to see how they handle Nic's face going from Blaze to GR.

I'm excited about that as well. One thing I've always been hoping for is an awesome transformation scene with Blaze in agony as his face melts off. I'm really hoping to see this happen slowly at least once.

[Vartha]

That would be cool to see Balze's face melt off slowly wouldn't it?

[Mr Nick]

Yeah, I want to see a real painful, detailed transformation, at least the first time it happens. I keep citing American Werewolf In London as a great example.

I reckon the first time it happens, it'll be when Johnny's rooted to the Hellcycle by Mephisto. That's what the Comic Con footage seemed to indicate. It'd be pretty cool for Mephisto to send him roaring off into the night at a hundred miles an hour while his flesh combusts and flies away and he screams in absolute agony. Mw-ha-ha!

:ghost:

[FlameHead]

The first time it happens will likely be when he's younger and not Nic Cage. He'll be Matt Long and have just made the deal perhaps...

If your interested, there is a Transformation thread; http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146159

[Uncanny Orb]

The first time it happens will likely be when he's younger and not Nic Cage. He'll be Matt Long and have just made the deal perhaps...

I don't think so, Mephisto will make the deal, then return when he's an adult and needs him to be the Ghost Rider.

[FlameHead]

Hmm, that also makes perfect sense. I know that Blaze is left alone for 20 years but I assumed that he spent a little time as the vengeance demon before that happening.

[Mr Nick]

I was under the impression that (in the film) Johnny sold his soul then spent the next part of his life dreading Mephisto turning up at his door to collect. At least, I hope that's the way it'll be. If we know he's been GR before we see him, it'll take the edge off the drama of the first transformation scene.

:(

[BIGGUN]

I was under the impression that (in the film) Johnny sold his soul then spent the next part of his life dreading Mephisto turning up at his door to collect. At least, I hope that's the way it'll be. If we know he's been GR before we see him, it'll take the edge off the drama of the first transformation scene.

:(


i think it will be too...from what i understand we get to see a "old west" style GR at the start of the movie...then moves to early 80s where Blaze makes the deal....then cuts to present day where Mephisto calls on him to force the change. 20 years of waiting knowing that the Devil will come calling on you to take your soul basically. that would suck....i compare it to waiting for the IRS to audit you....dont know when exactly but it WILL happen..heh.
i do admit that it would have been cool if young Blaze did change.....dont show the transformation ...just GR riding off in a old style Blaze stuntsuit (similar to the 70s comics) on a different hellcycle. GR would have appeared in the 80s for a short time, dissapeared for 20 years, then comes back later. there could be legends being spoken by local folk who remember seeing a fiery ghost like being riding the highways at night looking for evil people to punish.
could have been nice to have but i agree it would have lessened the impact of Cage's first change into GR.

[Uncanny Orb]

Some guy running his mouth.

EXCESS HOLLYWOOD: GHOST RIDER MOTORCYCLE HERO
by Doug Brunell
(11/03/2005)


Nicolas Cage -- actor and comic book reader. His name is even taken from Marvel Comics’ Luke Cage, a hero for hire. In the past he's been slated to play Superman, which would've been ... bad. Cage has neither the body nor the mentality to convincingly pull off that icon. That was years ago, though. Now he's got a project he feels somewhat closer to in his own strange way -- Ghost Rider.







Ghost Rider is a hero with a flaming skull who rides on a motorcycle and shoots flames out his hands. I first discovered his comic book around the same time I was reading "Famous Monsters of Filmland,” and it's no wonder the '70s Marvel book appealed to me. The character just looked so damn cool. His books have been failed attempts as of late, though, but the concept is still sound. That said, it’s too bad Cage is playing him.







I like Cage as an actor, but I can’t envision him as Ghost Rider because he always seems like Cage playing a role. I never lose myself in his performances and forget the man behind them. To make the Ghost Rider character work, you have to believe in him and the concept. The movie should be all about the character. It shouldn’t be about Cage, but that’s exactly how it sounds like it’s going to be. After all, Cage has said that this character is closer to his true nature than any other character he’s ever played.







Ghost Rider is fairly obscure, and was never extremely popular (until the ‘90s, but that was a different version of the character). Cage probably did like him back in the ‘70s and may have felt that he and the stuntman turned skeleton shared some personality traits, but I have to wonder if the decision to play him was really based on the fact that he would get to wear leather, ride around on a motorcycle and have a flaming skull. What actor wouldn't think that was cool?







Unfortunately, cool does not make a film. The right person in the right role does, and Cage is not the right person for Ghost Rider. If he had to play any hero or villain, I'd actually put him in the role of King Rad from "Brat Pack." I may actually buy that. Ghost Rider, however, should be portrayed by a relative unknown -- an average guy who is overwhelmed by what's been thrust upon him. He should be someone you believe could make a deal with the devil and live to regret it. That's not Cage.







What's done is done, though, and Cage will be burning onto screens far too soon. Some people will love it. Some will hate it. Others, like myself, will ignore it and see something else. It's still a shame, though. You'd think a guy with an obvious love for comic books would be able to pick a character he's better suited to play. But then again, he did name himself after a man who wore a yellow silk shirt and was known to occasionally proclaim, "Sweet Momma Christmas!" I guess there is no accounting for taste.
I do agree with some of what he says, as I never wanted Nic Cage as GR. But whats done is done. I'll still be the first one on line on opening night. and besides I'n not going to see Nic I'm going to see Ghost Rider.:ghost:

[Mr Nick]

I can't get mad at the guy. He's just giving his opinion. But I would say that, regardless of anyone's opinion of Nic playing Johnny, every GR fan should thank him for helping to get the film made. Without him, it might not have happened.

:ghost:

[RedIsNotBlue]

I can't get mad at the guy. He's just giving his opinion. But I would say that, regardless of anyone's opinion of Nic playing Johnny, every GR fan should thank him for helping to get the film made. Without him, it might not have happened.

:ghost:

Yeah that is a great way of putting it. Without Nic Cage we probably wouldn't be getting the Ghost Rider we are getting July 14th.

[PeterPan]

Ghost Rider should be a good movie...Nic Cage is a great actor and can pull off pretty much any role, alot of time was put into this film so i cant picture it being bad...

[FlameHead]

Welcome to the hype PeterPan. I hope we see you around the GR section more.

As for Nic, I'm now happy that he's doing it as I'm sure it'll be great because he has a passion for the character. Anybody who stays involved in the project for 4 or more years is A okay with me, even if I was dead set against him when he was announced. He'll be great. Have faith.

[FlameHead]

Nic is awesome in this regard...

18) One more question from me; How involved is Nic Cage in the process at this point?

As much as he can be, with Nic's crazy schedule. He just saw the movie for the first time and loved it. But he always has ideas to make it better. It's great working with him because he knows this character so well. We can talk in shorthand. He's the perfect Johnny Blaze.

[BIGGUN]

thats very cool to hear Cage is still involved...i was afraid he would just show up for his check and think nothing of the movie afterwards. that would have been a BAD sign.

[Uncanny Orb]

I was reading an article that was saying Nic has 7 films in production right now, I can see why he hasn't much time.

[FlameHead]

He's a busy man indeed.

thats very cool to hear Cage is still involved...i was afraid he would just show up for his check and think nothing of the movie afterwards. that would have been a BAD sign.

I didn't expect him to give up once it was filming because it was involved with the project for 5 years or something. He's invested so much and that's great to see. As much as I was against Nic at the start of this whole Ghost Rider talk, I think he's the best choice now.

[FlameHead]

Don't even get me started on this.

Though it looks far better than United 93, I still believe it to be only propoganda. I'll reserve my judgement for now though...

[Mr Nick]

It'll be interesting to compare World Trade Center and United 93.

:ghost:

[Midnyte_Sun]

Its just a little too damn early for 9/11 movies.

[Uncanny Orb]

Well it's gotta be better than Weatherman.

[xwolverine2]

Don't even get me started on this.

Though it looks far better than United 93, I still believe it to be only propoganda. I'll reserve my judgement for now though...
i have to agree with you...

im not watching that -censored-

[xwolverine2]

Well it's gotta be better than Weatherman.
weatherman was aweosme

[Uncanny Orb]

weatherman was aweosme More like awful.

[Midnyte_Sun]

Lords of War was an AWESOME movie. I've accepted the fact that Nic Cage is playing John Blaze, but it took me a long time.

It's probably a good thing that the movie was delayed a while back, it gives time for people to accept the fact that a middle-aged actor is playing the lead role in a movie oriented for Young Adults, not to mention a very well schooled Actor who has great screen charisma and charm.

[FlameHead]

This thread is bump worthy eh?

[RedIsNotBlue]

My favorite Nic Cage movie is Vampire's Kiss. ****ing awesome and golden.

[FlameHead]

Hmm... don't think I've seen that one.

Mine is probably Face/Off. I thought that was an incredible movie. Nic did a great Travolta and visa versa, in my opinion.

[xwolverine2]

yeah face/off was sweet

[FlameHead]

I wonder if Nic has signed on to do multiple of these. I'm sure he has... or didn't need to considering he has been one of the driving forces behind the project from what I understand

[wolfsfang]

I wonder if Nic has signed on to do multiple of these. I'm sure he has... or didn't need to considering he has been one of the driving forces behind the project from what I understand

Well considering that he is such a big fan he would probably love to do another of ole Mr. :ghost:

[FlameHead]

Well considering that he is such a big fan he would probably love to do another of ole Mr. :ghost:

I'd say you're right and he'll probably pass the torch to a younger GR in the process. I mean, they'll likely bring in Dan for the sequals (hopefully) because it's too good to not to. There's a lot of great story there to keep the franchise and character and mythos grounded in humanity which Marvel is so very good at doing.

Either way, I'm sure ol' saint Nic will be back...

[zer00]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=14851

http://comingsoon.net/nextraimages/ghostridernictalks2.jpgWhile on the set of his new film Next, Nicolas Cage spilled some secrets about why the much anticipated comic book movie Ghost Rider was postponed and talked about his plans to direct again.

ComingSoon.net hung out with the eclectic actor for a day and learned that, although there were some reshoots in the last few weeks for Ghost Rider, it's now complete and Cage is finished with the project.

"They were just tweaking certain things towards the end," he explained. "The reason the movie was delayed, I know that's been on people's minds. There were some effects that finally got authorized by the studio which [writer-director] Mark [Steven Johnson] really wanted and they're pretty big and it took time to put them together and design them. So we had to delay it and I think it's good because it's something we really wanted to fight for with Ghost Rider going into battle with a helicopter."

Cage, who is a big comic book fan, is really excited about the movie and said he thinks the audience will love his character.

"I mean, of all the characters I feel like that's the one we haven't seen anything quite like yet. It's new terrority because it deals with the spiritual as well as the physical world and that's pretty complex stuff for a comic book character. Also he's a lot of fun. The character of Johnny Blaze, the way we've kind of all designed him, he's a fun character. I wanted to bring a little humor to it as well."

As for a sequel, don't expect him to be in one if there is another one, or any sequel for that matter.

"I'm not contractually obligated to sequels on anything. I'll never say never, but I am happy that I haven't made any sequels to this point. If I do do a sequel, I'm going to have to know for sure that the script is better than the original. So I'm going to be very careful about that because I'm not eager to repeat myself."

And while Cage may only have one film (Sonny) under his belt for directing, he's excited to play that role again.

"I'm happy with the way my directorial debut has been received over time. At first, because of the subject matter being pretty taboo, I don't think people understood and that's OK. It's interesting, I just talked to James Franco this morning. We're both kind of happy with the different responses we've received because of it's life on cable television and DVD so I thought wouldn't it be great to do something together again, so I'm actively looking for something to work with James on."

Ghost Rider rides into theaters on February 16, while Next is scheduled to open on September 28, 2007.

[Casius--J]

Yeah i knew it had something do with effects and realistically feb would be better for sony boxoffice wise than an autumn showing.

I am so looking forward to this film tho it looks amazing as I expected it to be. I dont really know much about GR which is why i cant wait to see more of him.

as for sequels, well im sure if all goes well with this movie and MSJ stays on then it will be a better story than the first.

[Uncanny Orb]

No sequel, damn you Nic Cage.

[zer00]

He didn't say it was out of the question. I'm sure he'd still do it if MSJ was still on and the story was decent.

[Joker]

Even if Cage doenst come back, they can always just do the Dan Ketch version in the next one

[TrailerMusic]

Go Cage :up: Why make a Sequel just to do a Sequel :confused: Sequels are "supposed" to be better then the Original but most of the time that is not the case :down Nicholas Cage is smart :up: If they cant make it better then the Original why bother ?

[Screenscribe]

The fact that they got an actor that doesn't do sequels speaks volumes here. If its a potential franchise why get an actor that is so limited? Nic Cage has signed on to do EVERY comic character that has come down the pike in the last 10 years. He is so desperate to be in a comic movie he signed up for them all. I really don't think he feels anything for the character aside from being in the movie. But that is just my opinion.

At least its a character that anyone can play... after all Batman has had a revolving door on him since 1991. (hopefully that has stopped with Bale)

[xwolverine2]

nooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!......

dammit i dont want GR to follow the same path as DD where they only make one movie and the possiblities for a sequel whither away!

[Uncanny Orb]

He has a Ghost Rider tattoo, he must be a fan of the character.:confused:

[Mr Nick]

I feel quite lucky that Ghost Rider is a character who can be played (if necessary) by a series of actors. Having a different host for a sequel
would open up more story possibilities too.

Things are looking quite Ketchy for GR2, methinks.

:)

[zer00]

http://comingsoon.net/nextraimages/ghostridernictalks2.jpg

jesus is that a nice pic:( I can't stop looking

[Uncanny Orb]

I feel quite lucky that Ghost Rider is a character who can be played (if necessary) by a series of actors. Having a different host for a sequel
would open up more story possibilities too.

Things are looking quite Ketchy for GR2, methinks.

:)
Or Caretaker's story, Sam Elliot already said he'd do another.

[Mr Nick]

http://comingsoon.net/nextraimages/ghostridernictalks2.jpg

jesus is that a nice pic:( I can't stop looking

Deffo. Dimmed eyes and the best looking skull I've seen so far.

:up:

[Bishop2]

He has a Ghost Rider tattoo, he must be a fan of the character.:confused:

I can't believe that as man with a giant Ghost Rider tattoo would turn down the opportunity to do a Ghost Rider sequel. He must be the stupidest person alive.

[zer00]

He hasn't turned it down yet.

[Bishop2]

He hasn't turned it down yet.

Even so, if I had TATTOOED THE CHARACTER ACROSS MY BACK, I would blow dogs for quarters if it got me the chance to keep playing the character that I've now permanently emblazoned on my body. :p

[tzarinna]

That's awesome, he seems to really dig it and actually gets it. Thank go they delayed to insure that the special effects were aligned to meet the needs of the film.

[screenamesuck]

No sequel, damn you Nic Cage.

If he doesn't do a sequel I can see a story revolving around Dan for the second one and maybe Cage will show up in a third film to try and stop the Rider and eventually team up to stop say........Vengence.

Also, he said as long as the script is good he'd come back. I read somewhere they are doing a National Treasure 2 and that he is in it. If he would do a sequel to that then I'm sure he would to Ghost Rider.

[str8raz0r]

I think that, if GR makes good money, a sequel is a given. If they manage to get MSJ to do it again, I think he could work up something "better" than the original. Sony would prolly offer more $$$, so we could get some crazy ideas...the Lilin, maybe?

[FlameHead]

Now you're talkin' my language. Dan, Lilith, all that crazy stuff. This is all great movie material. MSJ seems to be setting an incredible supernatural tone to the GR movie universe which will easily adapt such stories as the Lilin.

As for Cage perhaps not coming back, it's sad but, not totally heartbreaking. The best thing about Ghost Rider is that he's a character that's eternal and forever. It's a spirit living within another being and therefore the host can easily change without suffering from mulitple batman syndrom.

I'm convinced that this movie will get a sequal and in fact, I'm sure ideas have already been thrown around on what to do. The question is, will it be a Spider-Man type timing in it's release, 3 years or will it be a Hulk....

All in all, I guess we should wait until at least the first one comes out eh?

[RedIsNotBlue]

Don't think its out of the question. I mean they are planning a National Treasure 2 and I read Cage is excited about it right?? I think as long as the story actually offers something completely different and interesting he would come back. But I was hoping maybe for a Dan Ketch sequel.

[zer00]

I think it's too early for Ketch, I think if it's at all possible. 3 movies with Blaze, 3 with Ketch.

But maybe we should focus on making sure the first rocks hard enough for that to be possible.

[FlameHead]

I think an introduction to Dan in the next one with him taking the reigns in the third would be a great story arc. In fact, I'm not really sure where else Blaze's real life story could go to make it as dramatic as this first movie's story. Adding the drama of having his lost brother in the mix is a great direction to explore.

[zer00]

I was thinking Ketch to become Rider in like the end of the 3rd.

[FlameHead]

Perhaps an ending with Mephisto going to meet Dan without us really knowing a Dan exists. Just a tease perhaps, who knows?

[screenamesuck]

Yeah we gotta see how the story plays out in the first one before we talk sequel's. Maybe MSJ will throw in little tidbits that will hint around to what we will see in another Ghost Rider flick

[Advanced Dark]

http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=629

Set Interview: Cage On Ghost Rider!
Date: June 6, 2006

By: Kellvin Chavez
Source: Latino Review (http://www.superherohype.com/forums/)

Last year, Latino Review was on the set of the much-anticipated "Ghost Rider" (http://latinoreview.com/filmpreview.php?id=104) with Nicolas Cage down under in Australia. It was a pretty cool time hanging out with Nic, Eva Mendes, Paul Fonda and writer and director Mark Steven Johnson.
When we caught up with Nic, he gave us a little background into what he went through to get ready for this film (http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=629#). In fact, Ghost Rider (http://latinoreview.com/filmpreview.php?id=104) was one of his favorite comics; he had the very first edition.
He also held us in suspense talking about the upcoming National Treasure 2 and Next. Check out what else he said:
When we talked to you at the National Treasure junket you weren't 100 percent sure about this project, whether it was the script or the filmmakers...
Cage: It was always the script. It was always a matter of trying to get the script to a place that I felt comfortable with.

What element did it gain?
Cage: It was mostly different aspects of the effects that I felt were being diminished in earlier drafts and I thought it could be brought up, enhanced so that the movie (http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=629#) would be more fun to watch. I just wanted to make sure that they were preserved.

What do you think of comic book movies?
Cage: Well, I've always thought that the comic book film (http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=629#) would be wonderfully entertaining for audiences, because it taps into the fantasy world more than just straight up violence. And I had no doubt when the first Batman came out, because of the title and the character, that was going to be a sensational-- a very exciting movie to watch, combined with the technology that we have today, that you can take these fantasies that many of us grew up on and really bring them to the big screen. You have marvelous entertainment. Comic books to me are modern mythology, and so it taps into all sorts of psychological and soulful levels for audiences in a positive way, in a fantasy element as opposed to blood and guts, gore fests.

Seems like this is a really CGI heavy movie. How is that working?
Cage: I've always enjoyed working with effects. I like any aspect that's creative, and Kevin Mack, who's directing the visual effects, is a very creative man and a very interesting person to talk to. So, to me, it's just stimulating to be around it, to participate. I want to, after the production is finished shooting here, I want to go to where they're working on the effects and say hello and see what they're doing with all the painting and how they're going to make the fire work, because fire is, you probably know, the most difficult of all the digital effects to pull off. Fire and water, but even more so fire.

How have your worked with Mark (Steven Johnson) on developing the character and what input did you have?
Cage: I was concerned that this wasn't sort of your typical hero. I wanted to approach it from the point of view of someone who is beleaguered by this contract of selling his soul to the devil. So if you were somebody that was experiencing a great deal of pain, like in a dental chair you try to relax by listening to dentist's music or things like that, so I'm trying to play Johnny Blaze more in that direction than the hard drinking and smoking
badass. I'm playing him more as someone who, he's made this deal and he's trying to avoid confronting it, anything he can do to keep it away from him.

Does the stunt riding play into that?
Cage: Yeah. I think anything like that is a form of escape. Also, the stunt riding keeps him connected to his father, who's passed away. So there's a version of being able to keep that relationship going when he's jumping, because that's what his father taught him.

How familiar were you with the different iterations of the character and what appealed to you about him specifically?
Cage: The main thing that appealed to me about the character was that it was dealing with very complicated spiritual issues. And for a comic book (http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=629#), that to me seemed different than all the others. I have a line in the movie that we worked on in the movie where I say I'm the only one that can walk in both worlds. And Ghost Rider really is that, when you think about it. Spider-Man doesn’t go into the supernatural or the spiritual world. Superman doesn't. Batman doesn't. But Ghost Rider really walks this dimension between two different worlds, and to me that is interesting. I find all that fascinating. I've always had an interest in the possibility of ghosts and the possibility of things that are in the unknown that we don¹t really comprehend or understand. So that made it more exciting for me. The other idea, that you can take a negative and turn it into a positive. How do you take this terrible mistake of making a deal with the devil and how do you take this curse and turn it into something good? Which, to me is unusual for a comic-book based movie. It's a pretty deep concept. And I was reading it when I was 10 years old. So that's pretty heavy stuff for kids to be reading.

Ghost Rider can't exist without violence, so where do you see that element in the film?
Cage: Well, he's the devil's bounty hunter. One of his rules is that he will never take a human being's life. But he will go after demons, other demons, and this movie's loaded with what they call The Hidden, which are these elemental demons that Mephistopheles, or Black Heart, Mephistopheles' son, is using, and so the Ghost Rider goes into battle with them more than the people.

How does he battle them?
Cage: He has these wonderful abilities, like hellfire and the chain that he can use and swing, and then he has the penance stare, where you can look at someone and make them review every bad, horrible thing they've ever done to anybody and then feel it and feel the pain of all their mistakes and sins and basically reduce you to a human jellyfish.

How is it riding the hell cycle?
Cage: I only rode the chopper, Grace. And also the stunt cycle. It's a Buell. They're both really terrific. The hell cycle, only the Ghost Rider rides that. That's the other thing. His bike transforms too, and turns into a demon hell cycle. But yeah, that's not much of a bike to really ride. You have to really know what you're doing on that. I want to add, though, there is a lot of humor in the movie. We've managed to really put a great deal of humor. Just character building humor. There's the relationship between Johnny Blaze and his best friend, Mack, is an interesting dynamic. Just humor about dealing with the irony of his situation.

Any difficulties with shooting the film so far?
Cage: No, this was a pretty smooth shoot, I have to say. The Australian crews are wonderful to work with. I really think American crews could learn a lot from what's going on over here. I don’t know what it is, but it's been smooth. There hasn't been any hold ups. Everyone seems to be getting along terrifically.

How did you prepare physically, mentally or perhaps even spiritually before you took this role?
Cage: Well, I'm not kidding. I was in Africa shooting a movie called Lord of War, and we went to this place in the middle of the desert to shoot for about a week, and-- trying to remember what happened exactly, what was the name of the place?-- anyway, I don¹t remember the exact name. But there weren’t a lot of people there. And I was stuck there and I was driving home in a van, there was a cobra in the road. And I said, Let's back up, let's look at it. So we backed it up and the cobra got up like that on its hind, whatever, it doesn’t have legs, but tail, and attacked my car. And I was shocked, and I never got that image out of my head. And then shortly after that, I started eating less portions. I stopped imbibing as much, I didn't go out as much, didn’t have as many cocktails. And I just kind of worked out a lot more, and got ready for this role. So I think it had something to do with this cobra.

A near death experience?
Cage: Something like that. Or just, he had this look in his eyes like, You got a lot of responsibility don't blow it. I could take you right now, but I'm here to warn you. Get your **** together.

Do you think there are no coincidences?
Cage: I do believe there are no coincidences, yes. I think everything happens for a reason.

Do you remember what your first exposure to comic (http://www.latinoreview.com/news.php?id=629#) books was and do you read any today?
Cage: My first experience with comic books was The Incredible Hulk. And I was living in Long Beach, California. I must have been 7 or 8 and I liked the color of it, the imagination of it. I liked the world that I could escape into. And then I started to read plenty of them and look at them. And Ghost Rider, I had the first one. I remember looking at that as well because it was such a marvelous iconic image, this black leather bike rider with a flaming skull for a head. I didn’t understand what it was about, but I loved the way it looked. So he was an interesting icon for me. Those are my earliest memories.

How is it working with Peter Fonda?
Cage: It's interesting because when I think of Peter Fonda I think of this 1960s icon. Captain America. But I've been doing this for 25 years, and he's been doing it for 40 years. And it was just odd to me that there's only a 15 year spread, and yet I see him as this 60s icon. And then I thought, wow, but we're not that far apart. It's like, I started to feel thrilled and yeah, thrilled and dated. I felt thrilled and dated.

This might be a semi-personal question. How did it feel to sell your comic book collection?
Cage: Well, I had a bad experience, which, you know, I was-- what's the right thing to say? I was robbed. And they took my best ones. They took Action 1 and Detective 27 and Detective 1. And now today they're worth who knows what. But I thought to myself, because I'm not the kind of person that wants to take comics and leave them in a safe somewhere. I'd rather put them on the wall and really enjoy them and look at them. But after that happened I thought maybe it's better not to own them, just to enjoy them from afar, and I sold them.

That must have been tough to do that.
Cage: You know, it was and it wasn't. I feel like no one really owns anything anyway and it's time for someone else to enjoy them and have them. Now, obviously, whatever I was doing it wasn't good enough because they're missing. So I decided that maybe someone else should have them.

Given how dark the material is, and the fact that you're trying to interpolate some humor into it, how difficult is it to manage those elements?
Cage: That came naturally to me. I think that heavy material is inherently--I know this is going to sound strange--but it can lend itself very easily to humor. Because I think people, when they're in heavy occupations, you look at paramedics or cops, they have the blackest humor. But it's a way of coping with the situation. I guess that's the only way I can answer that. I'm just thinking about what I said before about being thrilled and dated. Yeah, because I was in the 80s. I was doing Valley Girl, and he was doing Captain America in Easy Rider, so I felt we were both [laughs] somehow symbolic of a time, of a period, of a time capsule.

Are you signed on for sequels?
Cage: That remains to be seen. I'd have to see the movie and see how it comes together.

Would you do other comic book heroes?
Cage: Yeah, sure. Yeah. I think it's a great, great way to express yourself with making yourself and a lot of people happy and not doing anything that bad or wrong like chopping people's heads off.

Can you say something about Next?
Cage: Lee Tamahori is directing and I play a man-- it's based on a Philip K. Dick short story called The Golden Man. I play a man who has the gift of pre-vision. He can see what's going to happen to him very quickly into the future and he's being chased by the FBI so they can put him up on a TV set and help them find bombs and things like that. And he's trying to avoid that from happening to him.
GHOST RIDER RIDES INTO THEATERS ON FEB 2007.

[zer00]

nice stuff:up:

[Advanced Dark]

I find it comforting he's doing a National Treausure 2 since he seemed so opposed to sequels before.

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Well he seems to be the type of person who would only do a sequel if it was better than the original, which is a good thing IMO.

[str8raz0r]

Well he seems to be the type of person who would only do a sequel if it was better than the original, which is a good thing IMO.

Isn't that the whole point of a sequel?

Of course, we live in interesting times where, in lieu of quality, they'll just jack up the CGI and pump out more of the same.

[Uncanny Orb]

I hope there isn't a huge amount of homor in it, I was really hopng for something dark and gritty.

[str8raz0r]

I hope there isn't a huge amount of homor in it, I was really hopng for something dark and gritty.

I think that it'll one of those movies where the humor is very dark, but helps relieve some of the tension. It's one of those things that will help bring the appeal of GR further to yr average cinema-goer and not just comic fans.

I'm sure we're not going to be getting Benny Hill on a bike...although that has it's own twisted appeal.

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Isn't that the whole point of a sequel?

Of course, we live in interesting times where, in lieu of quality, they'll just jack up the CGI and pump out more of the same.

Well of course, that is the point of a sequel, and in a perfect world that would be the case, but very few ever better the original.

[FlameHead]

Perhaps, though I'm pretty sure he's said in the past that this will be a one shot type movie with not real cliffhanger endings. Of course, that was a while ago now and things could have changed dramatically since then.

[RedIsNotBlue]

Perhaps, though I'm pretty sure he's said in the past that this will be a one shot type movie with not real cliffhanger endings. Of course, that was a while ago now and things could have changed dramatically since then.

A: Without giving too much away, it's definitely a complete film on its own. It's not left open-ended as to this story. However, it does leave the door open in a really clever way as to what could be next.

A: We would all love to return to make another one. We had a blast and Nic loves this character. But that will be up to the fans.


:)

[FlameHead]

I'm late getting to this but, thanks for posting. Great read.

It's still sad to hear him talk about loosing his comics. I would die if that happened to me.

I hope there isn't a huge amount of homor in it, I was really hopng for something dark and gritty.

I like the fact that there's humor in this. Without the light side of the movie, the dark would not be defined. I like a rollercoaster ride for my flicks and this is gonna be just that from the sounds of things

[FlameHead]

So get out an see the freakin' movie!!

.... when it comes out.

[webhead731]

Is it just a little possible that we can get this movie sooner? Not much but a little bit?

[RedIsNotBlue]

Is it just a little possible that we can get this movie sooner? Not much but a little bit?

Nah. It is the next best and proven money making date for Sony.

[webhead731]

Dang. I've been waiting since 2001 or 2002.

[FlameHead]

You and me both WH. I've been chatting pretty indepth about it here about since '03.

As for the article itself, it still excites me that Sony gave the flick more money to do another scene... especially considering that scene is Ghost Rider battling with a helicopter. That **** is gonna be hot...

... I hate Paris Hilton by the way.

[pinkfloydstarr]

i was just wondering what the people thought about nic cage being ghost rider. i personally dont think he's best for the roll, you?

[pinkfloydstarr]

this came from another site-
am i the only one who hates nicholas cage!he only has one good movie and he isn't good in it. he keeps getting these great roles and he makes them horrible with his overdone acting! the teaser trailer even shows his acting "skill" as a heavy breather, whoooooo electrifying. I swear to my religious leader if nick cage ruins ghost rider one of my favorite comic book heros i'll rip my hair out of my scull! i'd honestly rather see someone like morgan freeman play the role if i had to choose between the 2. i say we boycot bad acting who's with me!!!