Brian Taylor

25 New Images from GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE Starring Nicolas Cage

by Matt Currie    Posted: January 27th, 2012 at 1:10 pm

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, the sequel that no one wanted but which we will all nonetheless watch at least once in our lives to see Nicholas Cage pissing fire, hits theatres next month. In anticipation, the interwebs were flooded with a torrent of images from the film, featuring a heavily tattooed (and apparently still-alive) Christopher Lambert, helmers Mark Neveldine and Bryan Taylor (Crank) making a scene ten times more awesome by directing it on rollerblades, and Cage’s CGI alter-ego not only pissing fire, but vomiting it. Hit the jump for a bevy of images (some of which we’ve seen before) from Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.

GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: January 24th, 2012 at 5:49 pm

With less than a month to go before directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance hits screens, a new behind-the-scenes featurette has been released. While Nicolas Cage remains the star of the film (upstaged only slightly by the flaming skull of Ghost Rider himself), directors Neveldine and Taylor are the focus in this short piece. Known for their insane camera work on films like Crank and Gamer, Neveldine/Taylor have only gotten crazier. The featurette spends as much time spotlighting the movie’s stuntwork professionals  as it does the directors themselves.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance also stars Idris Elba and Ciaran Hinds and opens February 17^th. You can check out Steve’s set visit here. Hit the jump to check out the explosive featurette.

TOP 5: GHOST RIDER SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE Set Visit, Benedict Cumberbatch Talks STAR TREK 2, Mondo’s Justin Ishmael, BRIDESMAIDS Sequel, WAR HORSE

by Jason Barr    Posted: January 7th, 2012 at 8:44 am

With awards-season upon us, I’ve been doing my best to catch up with any potential contenders that I may have missed up to this point. Without a doubt, the standout of late has been writer/director Tate Taylor‘s The Help. I had heard from several friends that the pic was solid but nothing special. After finally getting a chance to sit down with it myself, I have to say that I disagree. I think it’s better than that. Not only is it filled with great performances, but it also finds a way to be more than a story of how a caring white person can help those otherwise hopeless black people. If only 2009′s The Blind Side could go back in time and take note.

But enough of my own cinematic experiences, in this week’s “Top 5″ you’ll find a recap of our visit to the Romanian set of Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance, Benedict Cumberbatch talking about his villainous role in J.J. Abrams‘ Star Trek sequel, our interview with Mondo creative director Justin Ishmael, the possibility of a Bridesmaids world without Kristen Wiig, and video interviews with War Horse‘s Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Tom Hiddleston and more. Hit the jump for a brief recap and link to each.

Collider Goes to Romania to Visit the Set of GHOST RIDER SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE; Plus Video Blog Recap and New Images

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 5th, 2012 at 9:00 am

Nicholas Cage, Idris Elba and Violante Placido are walking into a very large cave.  As they get further inside, I notice the walls and huge metal shelving units are filled with hundreds of semi-automatic machine guns, sniper rifles, and boxes of ammo.  The cave even has old-school weapons like swords and armor decorating the walls.  It’s easily the biggest arms cache I’ve ever seen, and I can only imagine what they’ll be used for.  As I take in the extremely cool surroundings, I hear director Brian Taylor say cut.  I guess now would be a good time to mention I’m standing on a soundstage about forty minutes outside Bucharest, Romania.

Let me back up a second.

It’s Sunday, February 20, 2011 and I’m sitting on a plane flying back from Europe.  A few days ago I got to visit the set of the Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance with a few other online reporters and we were treated to a really great day filled with awesome interviews and I learned a tremendous amount about the movie.  While I have serious issues with the first Ghost Rider, everything I learned on set tells me they have a much better story and a much better team of filmmakers and actors trying to bring Spirit of Vengeance to life.  For a full recap, hit the jump.

Director Brian Taylor GHOST RIDER SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE On-Set Interview

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 5th, 2012 at 9:00 am

As the directors of Crank, Crank: High Voltage, and Gamer, Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Neveldine/Taylor) have definitely shown a crazy sensibility and an offbeat sense of humor.  So when they were announced as the directors of the Ghost Rider sequel, Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance, some fans might have wondered about the choice, but I was extremely enthusiastic.  After all, no matter what the story was about or who was going to get cast, I knew the movie would look and feel like an original creation, and not some cookie cutter Hollywood product.  And if you’ve seen the trailer for GR2, you know what I’m talking about, as one scene features Ghost Rider pissing fire.  Need I say more?

Anyway, last year I got to visit the set of the Ghost Rider sequel when the production was filming outside Bucharest, Romania.  While on set I got to participate in a group interview with director Brian Taylor and he talked about why they were filming in Eastern Europe, the interesting and unique locations they scouted, how they weren’t going to change their style for 3D, working with Nicolas Cage to create an all new Ghost Rider, how Cage’s character is a dual role, and a lot more.  Hit the jump for more.

Marvel Wins GHOST RIDER Rights in Legal Dispute

by Dave Trumbore    Posted: December 29th, 2011 at 5:15 pm

While fans might have a lot of concerns with the Mark Neveldine/Brian Taylor-directed sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, they can now remove “legal battle over property rights” from that list. After the first Ghost Rider film debuted in 2007, comic book author and co-creator Gary Friedrich was none too pleased. In 1971, Friedrich, also known for his work on Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos, was a freelancer working for Marvel. Absent from the comics world for decades since then, Friedrich popped up to raise a rights issue in 2004 when Marvel had announced  plans to release the first Ghost Rider film. Yesterday, less than two months from the February 17^th release of the sequel, a New York federal judge ruled that Ghost Rider is a Marvel property, case closed. Or maybe not. Hit the jump for more on this case.

TOP 5: Fantastic Fest Coverage, 50/50, MACHINE GUN PREACHER, GHOST RIDER 2, Tom Hiddleston Talks THE AVENGERS and THOR 2

by Jason Barr    Posted: October 1st, 2011 at 3:56 pm

With the fall film season now in full swing, I’m 100% ashamed to admit that I’ve yet to see two of my most anticipated fall films: Moneyball and 50/50. Now, I have every intention of ending this charade at some point this weekend but, for now, I hope you’ll give me a pass. If I’ve still yet to check them out when we meet here next week, I’ll understand if you choose to revoke my “mildly credible film blogger” credentials. In the meantime…

…In this week’s “Top 5″ installment, you can find all of our Fantastic Fest 2011 coverage. After that, interviews abound with the cast of Jonathan Levine’s dramedy 50/50, the cast, creators, and real-life inspiration for Machine Gun Preacher, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance director Brian Taylor, and Thor/The Avengers‘ Tom Hiddleston. Check out a brief recap and link to each after the jump.

Exclusive: GHOST RIDER 2 Director Brian Taylor Talks 3D, Running Time, Deleted Scenes, Filming in Europe, Nic Cage and a Lot More

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: September 27th, 2011 at 12:10 pm

A few days ago, I got to sit down with director Brian Taylor for an exclusive interview on Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.  With a February 17, 2012 release date fast approaching, Taylor is currently in post-production finishing up the movie.   However, while the movie is still almost five months from getting released, they already have a few deleted scenes and Taylor says the sequel will be 90 minutes (the original was 114).

During the interview we talked about where they are in the editing process, the experience of post converting to 3D and his thoughts on 3D, what to expect from Idris Elba and Nicolas Cage in the film, the deleted scenes, the run time, what will be on the DVD/Blu-ray (they captured thousands of hours of footage: interviews, features, behind-the-scenes stuff), what it was like to film in Eastern Europe (he tells some crazy stories), will there be other Marvel characters in the sequel, the full trailer, and a lot more.  Trust me, if you’re a fan of Neveldine/Taylor and have been looking forward to Ghost Rider 2, you’re going to like this interview.  Hit the jump to watch.

New Posters for GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE, MELANCHOLIA, and ABDUCTION

by Jason Barr    Posted: August 18th, 2011 at 5:32 pm

New posters for Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Melancholia, and Abduction are now available online. Beginning with Ghost Rider, the film stars Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba, and Ciaran Hinds. The pic centers on Cage’s reprised Johnny Blaze who, while kicking it in Eastern Europe, is called upon to stop the Devil (Hinds) from taking human form. Although I prefer the teaser promos found at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, this new sheet seems effective enough in positioning the film as a grittier take on the character than its predecessor. The new Melancholia poster is essentially the full, hi-res shot of a Kirsten Dunst image we seen back in April while the Abduction sheet features star Taylor Lautner running from a city skyline.

Check out each of the posters after the jump. Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance opens on February 17th, 2012. Written/directed by Lars von Trier, Melancholia will hit VOD platforms on October 7th before opening in theaters on November 11th. Directed by John Singleton, Abduction will be released on September 23rd.

Comic-Con: Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba, and Directors Mark Neveldine/ Brian Taylor Interview GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE

by Christina Radish    Posted: July 27th, 2011 at 1:47 pm

For Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Nicolas Cage is back as Johnny Blaze, a man who struggles with his curse as the devil’s bounty hunter. Hiding out in a remote part of Eastern Europe, he is recruited by a secret sect to save a young boy from the devil and, although he is reluctant to embrace the power of the Ghost Rider again, he knows it is the only way to protect the boy, and possibly rid himself of his curse forever. With a new villain, a new sidekick and a new look, Ghost Rider is now seen through the eyes of filmmakers Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor.

Following their Comic-Con panel presentation in Hall H (read our recap here), co-stars Nicolas Cage and Idris Elba, along with directors Neveldine and Taylor, talked about what they wanted to do with the story and character this time, how the chose not to consider the first movie in making this one, pushing it to the limits for stunts, all of the extras they’ll have for the eventual DVD/Blu-ray release, and what they enjoy about the Comic-Con experience. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

Comic-Con 2011: GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE Panel Recap

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: July 22nd, 2011 at 4:49 pm

Sony packed the house in Hall H today, and opening the panel was our first look at Neveldine/Taylor’s Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance. The sequel stars Nicolas Cage, Ciaran Hinds, Idris Elba, Johnny Whitworth, and James Remar. While some may be a bit skeptical of the sequel, let me assure that this is a very different movie. Seriously, this panel was a bit insane: at the end of the trailer Ghost Rider literally pissed fire. Hit the jump for my recap of the panel, which included our first look at footage from the film in 3D as well as a featurette showcasing the death-defying nature of Neveldine/Taylor’s directing style.

Director Brian Taylor Talks GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE: Updates on Budget, Characters, Story, and is it a Direct Sequel?

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: March 19th, 2011 at 5:17 pm

The Nicolas Cage-starred Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance recently wrapped filming in Europe, and co-director Brian Taylor recently sat down and spoke at length about the project. While 2007’s Ghost Rider, starring Nicolas Cage, wasn’t necessarily met with an enthusiastic response, Taylor and co-director Mark Neveldine took a vastly different approach when they came on board for the sequel:

“We basically said, we want to do it, [would] absolutely love to do it, but it’s gotta be 100% different from the first movie, everything, except for Nic. We want the character to look different, feel different, sound different. The backstory of the character’s different, the origin of the story is expanded upon in ways that the first movie didn’t hint at, at all. The location’s different, the whole cast is different; the only thing that’s the same is Nic…It’s pretty much a reboot, only with the same actor, which makes it: a requel. Or a seboot, I can’t decide which one I like better.”

This definitely sounds like good news for fans who were unhappy with the first go-around. Hit the jump for more from Taylor on the project, including what attracted him to the film, his thoughts on villain Blackout, and when we can expect to see the first footage.

Video and Photos from the Set of GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 9th, 2010 at 1:16 pm

Videos and photos from the set of the Ghost Rider sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, have leaked online.  As we previously reported, filming began on November 2nd.  There’s nothing in the video or images that will blow your mind (although I think the only thing that might surprise me set-footage-wise would be Nicolas Cage being set on fire), but if you’re eager to see the awful hairpiece and a cool motorcycle (but not the decked-out Ghost Rider bike), then you’ll want to take a look.

Hit the jump to check out the video and the images.  Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank), Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance also stars Ciarán Hinds, Idris Elba and Violante Placido.  The film is due out on February 17, 2012.

Exclusive: Director Brian Taylor on GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE; Clarifies Nicolas Cage’s Role; Filming Begins November 2

by Jeff Ames    Posted: October 28th, 2010 at 10:41 pm

Recently a tweet regarding the sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance popped up and has since caused some confusion amongst the internet faithful. The tweet was in regards to Nicolas Cage’s role in the film, and caused many a website to speculate that the actor would be portraying both the hero and the villain in the follow up to Mark Steven Johnson’s 2007 film.

To set things straight we contacted the source himself – co-director Brian Taylor (Crank). According to the filmmaker, who is directing the sequel along with Mark Neveldine, Nicolas Cage will indeed be playing two roles, but not the villain as previously thought. Instead, Cage will play both Johnny Blaze and the Ghost Rider in the film. This contrasts with the original Ghost Rider where Cage played Blaze, but left his demonic alter-ego with the stunt team and special FX guys. While this news debunks the Nic Cage good guy/bad guy dual role, it does justify the tweet which foresaw a Nic Cage classic in the making. More after the jump.

GHOST RIDER 2 Revs Up on February 17, 2012

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: September 17th, 2010 at 9:52 pm

It looked touch-and-go there for a second, but Nicolas Cage confirmed he will reprise his role in the sequel to Ghost Rider.  Per Box Office Mojo, Sony has set a date for Cage’s return: Ghost Rider 2 hits 3D theaters on February 17, 2012, five years and a day after the original hit on 02/16/07.

I know, I know — you weren’t clamoring for a sequel.  But the studio entrusted Ghost Rider 2 to Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor.  The unapologetically bonkers minds behind the Crank series.  If you want to make a fun movie about a flaming skeleton biker, you hand the keys to Neveldine/Taylor.  Done deal.  For more information on the film, check out Steve’s interview with producer Mike De Luca.

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