Every time I write an article about the forthcoming Ghost Rider 2, I make a point of mentioning how absolutely useless the concept is. Even those who somehow managed to enjoy the Mark Steven Johnson original aren't clamoring to see the character on the big screen again. As much as we may protest, however, the movie is indeed happening, having already cast Nicolas Cage, Idris Elba, Christopher Lambert, Ciaran Hinds and Johnny Whitworth - but at least they won't be wasting a lot of money doing so.
The Wrap reports that the budget for the film, which had originally stood at $135 million, has been cut down to $75 million. Co-financed by Sony and Hyde Park Entertainment, the reasoning behind the cut comes from Sony's investments in high profile films like the Spider-Man reboot, Men in Black 3 and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Even Cage got a pay decrease as his fee went from $12 million to $7 million, according to an inside source.
The bar I've set for this film has never been exceptionally high, but this news certainly doesn't help things at all. If it helps matters at all, directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor made their first feature, Crank, on a minuscule $12 million budget. Then again, Jason Statham did have a flaming skull for a head in that movie.
