Gservo
22nd May 2002, 01:07 PM
NEW YORK (Variety) - Sony Pictures, riding high with its adaptation of Marvel Comics' "Spider-Man," is in negotiations to take all rights to Marvel's "Ghost Rider" from Dimension Films, which placed the project in turnaround.
"Ghost Rider" is a story about Johnny Blaze, who makes a "Devil and Daniel Webster"-like pact in an effort to save someone he loves. The devil tricks Blaze into a deal that's not exactly what it's said to be. However, part of the pact bestows supernatural qualities on Johnny, who transforms into a ghost rider on a journey to reclaim his life, his love and his soul.
Sony also is negotiating with scribe Shane Salerno, one of the scribes with a writing credit on the "Shaft" remake, to pen a screenplay based on the property.
"Once again, I am very happy to be in business with Sony," Marvel Studios CEO Avi Arad told Daily Variety. "And I hope they are just as happy to be in business with me. This is a big, exciting story that has some spectacular visual effects. It's one of the most stunningly visual comic books in our collection."
"Spider-Man," meanwhile, continues to stretch its legs toward a $300 million domestic tally in less than three weeks of release.
Marvel has a deal with Artisan to create 15 features or TV series based on Marvel characters. Marvel also is aligned with Universal for next summer's tentpole picture "The Hulk," directed by Ang Lee and starring Eric Bana, Nick Nolte and Jennifer Connelly; and with Fox on "Daredevil," starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner.
"Ghost Rider" is a story about Johnny Blaze, who makes a "Devil and Daniel Webster"-like pact in an effort to save someone he loves. The devil tricks Blaze into a deal that's not exactly what it's said to be. However, part of the pact bestows supernatural qualities on Johnny, who transforms into a ghost rider on a journey to reclaim his life, his love and his soul.
Sony also is negotiating with scribe Shane Salerno, one of the scribes with a writing credit on the "Shaft" remake, to pen a screenplay based on the property.
"Once again, I am very happy to be in business with Sony," Marvel Studios CEO Avi Arad told Daily Variety. "And I hope they are just as happy to be in business with me. This is a big, exciting story that has some spectacular visual effects. It's one of the most stunningly visual comic books in our collection."
"Spider-Man," meanwhile, continues to stretch its legs toward a $300 million domestic tally in less than three weeks of release.
Marvel has a deal with Artisan to create 15 features or TV series based on Marvel characters. Marvel also is aligned with Universal for next summer's tentpole picture "The Hulk," directed by Ang Lee and starring Eric Bana, Nick Nolte and Jennifer Connelly; and with Fox on "Daredevil," starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner.