Cage not a lock as Ghost Rider

Despite publications near and far - notably, Australian rags, because that's where the movie's going to film - reporting his attachment, Nicolas Cage tells Latino Review that he's still in talks for "Ghost Rider", he hasn't signed a thing.

“I’m very curious about that [movie],” Cage said. “However, I‘m still in talks about that particular movie. It’s not a definite at this point.”

Could the project be in trouble? January's not far away and the production still hasn't got a star.

Hopefully Cage will get coaxed into it soon. Otherwise, we might have another 1989 "Punisher" fiasco on our hands Down Under, with the likes of Dolph flying first-class to the Docklands set.

So what’s the hold up with Cage anyway? “It’s really just a matter of the vision of the movie and how it will be portrayed. It’s talks about script and things like that. It’s true that I was involved with Ghost Rider over three years ago and was trying to develop it with another filmmaker. These things are very sensitive. It’s a bullseye and you really have to hit it. Otherwise it may not work. So it’s best for everyone to be cautious and make sure it’s got the right auspices.”

In addittion, Cage rarely taks about the days when he walked about Warner with the Superman cape attached, but touched on that unsettingly experience. "I went pretty far down the road with Tim Burton on that. And at the time, Warner Brothers just wasn’t ready to pull the trigger so to speak on the script because it was getting incredibly expensive and that was at a period in their career, Warner Brothers, where they were being cautious with the money."

He was also offered a role in "Spider-Man". “They talked to me about playing the Green Goblin, but it was at the same time I was offered Adaptation. And I was wanting to play twins in a movie, so that’s why I opted for Adaptation. Also, I like Spike Jonze’s work quite a bit. I also like Sam Raimi very much as well. But it just seemed like Adaptation would give me more of an opportunity to learn something.”

A month or so back his name was branded about for the part of Skeletor in John Woo's "Masters of the Universe" pic, but seems the news was as accurate as a casio calculator without batteries. "No, I don't know anything about that". But, "I think John Woo’s a terrific filmmaker and I would love to work with John again. I think we have a good rapport together."

There were rumblings a coupe of months ago of a "Face/Off" sequel, but since Cage's rogue bit the big one in the first film, it's unlikely he'll re-team with Woo on that.

Talking of things not set in stone, Keith Richards still isn't a lock to star as Johnny Depp's pop in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequel either. Jerry Bruckheimer told the aforesaid site that they haven't reached a deal with Richards or a local whiskey hole to shower him with plea yet. Can't see what the hold-up would be with that one - Richo is surely going to get a lot of green out of it.