Zack Snyder recently addressed the rumors about him tackling a Ghost Rider reboot for Marvel. Fresh of the success of Netflix's Army of the Dead, Snyder has been linked to several upcoming projects. Army of the Dead looks to spawn a universe for itself with various plans already in the works. First up is the prequel film Army of Thieves, which Snyder is producing while sharing story credit. He is also working on a King Arthur film set in the old west, which is looking to put a unique spin on the Arthurian legend. Ghost Rider somehow got added into the mix among these various projects, fueling speculation that Snyder may tackle another comic book film.
Ghost Rider was previously adapted into a film with Nicolas Cage's 2007 iteration of Johnny Blaze. The film didn't do much to impress critics or fans of the character, but it did manage to make over $228 million worldwide. The sequel, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, was released in 2011 with Cage back to deliver his over-the-top performance. It managed to earn even worse reviews, and while it still made over $132 million worldwide, the poor reception effectively killed the franchise. When the character rights reverted back to Marvel from Sony, a different iteration of Ghost Rider, Robbie Reyes, appeared in several episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but the character hasn't been seen since.
When speaking with Tyrone Magnus to promote Army of the Dead, the swirling internet rumors about Snyder taking on a Ghost Rider project came up. He seemed a bit surprised but was happy to laugh it off before debunking the rumors as false. While he may not be working on a Ghost Rider project for Marvel, Snyder clearly enjoys the character. Snyder said:
"Oh, really? I don't know that. It's kind of fun, I gotta be honest. It's cool, you're like, 'Oh yeah, no, Ghost Rider is a done deal!' No. But no, it's not."
Snyder is well known to the comic book movie world, having directed several adaptations. His first foray into the genre was 2006's 300, which was a massive hit that pulled in over $450 million worldwide. Snyder followed that up with 2009's stylish Watchmen, which was reasonably well-received while not being the success the studio had hoped for. After that, Snyder took on Superman with 2013's Man of Steel starring Henry Cavill, which laid the groundwork for what would become the DCEU. Snyder would continue directing DC heroes with 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which was followed up the next year with the heavily troubled production and release of Justice League. While Zack Snyder's Justice League brought his true vision to audiences earlier this year, Snyder looked to step away from comic book films for the time being.
While Snyder may be hesitant to direct another comic book film at the moment, he clearly has a passion for the material. Possible studio interference is always a threat, and Zack Snyder has opened up about his troubles with Warner Bros. over the years. Marvel may offer a less intrusive space, but any large-scale project will have to meet certain studio demands. With Snyder clearly eyeing future projects outside the comic book realm, his return may not be in the near future. However, with his enthusiasm for the characters and the worlds, he could venture back if the right film piques his interest.
Source: Tyrone Magnus (via Comicbook)