Movies
Nicolas Cage’s ‘Ghost Rider’ Skull Flames Out
After nearing financial ruin, star Nicolas Cage appeared to say “yes” to any movie that was offered to him. Some hit, some miss, but the market appeared to be over saturated with the multi-talented actor. So, it comes as a shock that Cage won’t be returning to the Ghost Rider franchise, which resulted in the 2007 adaptation of the Marvel comic, as well as its sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.
“Personally, I’m done,” he told MTV. “I’ve done what I had to do with that part. You never say never, but right now, today, I would say that I’m done.”
He’s at least proud of the film, predicated you believe success is based on dollars. “Contrary to whatever the perception is, that was an enormously successful movie,” he said. “We made it for, like, $47 or $48 million dollars, and it approached $200 million. I view that as a success. I think people need to know we did that on a shoestring budget. When you look at it that way you see the enormous talent of Mark Neveldine and Bryan Taylor, that they were able to accomplish that.”
The movie still sucks, dude.
Although he did end on a smart note: “It would be interesting if they did it with a female Ghost Rider.”
We end with the question: could Cage finally be in a good place, or has his contract just ended? Most lead actors are signed on for a film’s sequel, if not multiple sequels. His exit may not be his choice, but it’s the right choice.
Movies
Christopher Landon to Helm Feature Adaptation of Grady Hendrix’s ‘The Final Girl Support Group’
A new feature adaptation of author Grady Hendrix‘s slasher book The Final Girl Support Group is now on the way from Paramount Pictures, and Deadline reports that it’s found its director in Christopher Landon (Drop, Happy Death Day).
The two previously collaborated on My Best Friend’s Exorcism.
In The Final Girl Support Group, “Lynette is a real-life final girl who survived a massacre. For more than a decade, she’s been meeting with five other final girls and their therapist in a support group for those who survived the unthinkable, working to put their lives back together. Then one woman misses a meeting, and their worst fears are realized—someone knows about the group and is determined to rip their lives apart again, piece by piece.”
“But the thing about final girls is that no matter how bad the odds, how dark the night, how sharp the knife, they will never, ever give up.”
I wrote in my novel review for BD, “Hendrix puts his characters through the absolute wringer. It’s a bloody, vicious voyage for the flawed heroine, both physically and emotionally. In terms of action and horror, Support Group delivers breakneck pacing and thrills.”
Five years ago, Andy Muschietti & Barbara Muschietti (Mama, It, It Chapter Two) were attached to produce a planned series adaptation for HBO Max alongside Charlize Theron. While Theron is no longer producing, the Muschiettis remain on board under their Double Dream label.
Paramount Pictures is also developing Hendrix’s sci-fi novella, BadAsstronauts.
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