In the wake of the Disney/Marvel deal, studios everywhere are fast tracking any Marvel properties they've got sitting on the shelf. They've got to get these films done, otherwise their rights revert back to Marvel. Case in point: Ghost Rider 2 is now being fast tracked by Columbia, hopefully with David Goyer in tow to draft the script. Goyer is not officially signed as of yet, but word is the story will be based on an original idea of Goyer's from some years ago. Goyer has a long history of turning comic book heroes into big screen juggernauts. He basically helped establish the comic book medium as a Hollywood powerhouse of ideas with his highly successful Blade franchise. Since then he has also written both of the most recent Batman films.
Well, I can say that Goyer is a vast improvement over Ghost Rider's previous writer, Mark Steven Johnson. The previous Ghost Rider pulled in middling numbers here in the States, barely recouping it's expenses. Globally however, it totalled something upwards of $220M, which could be considered something of a success. The Ghost Rider premise is ripe for exploration, combing fantasy/sci-fi and religious themes. It also promises heavy emphasis on the visual effects much like the last film. Assuming Goyer does indeed sign on to write, and hopefully direct, this could be a sequel worth keeping a close eye on.
