There is no doubt when watching a movie directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, that it was made by anybody else. The pair made their name with kinetic and electric "Crank" films, and recently graduated to comic tenptoles, helming the upcoming "Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance." Known for their unorthodox methods — which includes strapping on roller blades, and grabbing a camera so they can get right into the action — the film they make are distinctly their own, and comic book movies have never quite looked the way 'Vengeance' does. And while they haven't yet decided on what their next project will be, if things go well, they could be working with Nicolas Cage again very soon.
The duo said they're intrigued by a chance to return to the "Ghost Rider" universe, and that the film's star is also keen to reprise his role as Johnny Blaze. "There's been talk about [a sequel]," Neveldine told us in a recent interview, in regards to taking meetings with Sony. "I know Nic[olas Cage] wants to do it, he's very pumped about it. We'll just to see how well [this] does." It does seem like the duo has developed a strong rapport with Cage, their original choice for the character of Chev Chelios in "Crank," giving him the the room to fully utilize every tool in his acting arsenal. "He's such an incredible force," confirms Taylor. "When you've got a weapon like that, you don't want to leave anything on the table."
But right now, Neveldine and Taylor are debating between the next "Ghost Rider" or a third entry in the "Crank" series, which they've been kicking around for a while now. "It's gonna happen, it's gonna be written, and it will be 3D," Neveldine assures the fans, though they claim they're still spitballing ideas, claiming they're fueled by, "Beer, tequila, talking about ideas, doing whatever the fuck we want to do, and trying to push it through the system." Taylor adds, " 'Crank' is destined to be a trilogy. And then maybe we'll go for the prequels the way 'Star Wars' did." And while there's no idea what the future may hold for Chev Chelios, Taylor floats this colorful possibility. "Maybe Chev Chelios versus Ghost Rider," he offers. "But you can't kill Chev."
"Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance" opens this Friday, February 17th.
