Yesterday we heard that Idris Elba wasn’t done with Marvel after his role in Thor and speculation arose as to what character that would be.
I still vote Black Panther, but it just may be a role in Ghost Rider 2.
Idris Elba and Johnny Whitworth are in negotiations to join the cast of Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance at Columbia Pictures, reports Heat Vision.
Now the problem with this is the exact opposite of the solution I had yesterday considering his role of Hemidall.
Ghost Rider is unlikely to be the launching point for a spinoff of Power Man(Luke Cage) or Blade, so I doubt his role will be of an existing character.
As Hemidall he will be barely recognizable in the giant over exaggerated armour. This leaves the door wide open for him to play other more notable characters in the Marvel Universe and have his own vehicle to star in.
But if he plays a supporting role in Ghost Rider, he will forever be branded as that character (until they reboot the franchise and erasing him from that obligation – See Chris Evans)
So while I wish Idris Elba all the best of luck, I do hope for his sake that he will be playing Blade or Luke Cage in the Ghost Rider film and spinoff into his own franchise from there. But I don’t see it happening.
It would be interesting if Luke Cage was in a Nic Cage film, as it is well known that Nicolas Cage, was born Nicolas Kim Coppola (Nephew of Francis Ford Coppola) and changed his name to Cage as not to build his success from his uncle’s reputation, and chose Cage because of the popular (at the time) Marvel Comics character.
Seems more likely that could happen now that I think of it.
EDIT MTV Splash reports Elba’s character:
Elba stars as “an alcoholic warrior monk” tasked with tracking down Johnny Blaze
So no Cage or Blade in Ghost Rider… at least played by Elba.
Well, who was in the previous Ghost Rider film? Sam Elliott (2003 Hulk) and Donal Logue (Blade 1). I don’t see what the fuss is about over Elba being in a sequel. Just because he plays a characterin ‘Thor’?
Sony has rights to Ghost Rider and Spidey (I always hoped for a Demogoblin, but alas…) but only in a perfect world would they allow a crossover with spinoff characters. It is a practice which I am not fond of, as it has diluted past franchises to some extent. We’ve been down this road before. The road to hell is always paved with good intentions.
Don’t get me wrong: I’d have no problem if Marvel offered up Luke Cage or T’Chilla to Elba. Blade, I think, is still under New Line. I’m not disappointed. (Although in a perfect world, a studio with film rights to Marvel characters could “tie in” to the Marvel Movie Verse in some small way, but alas, only in a perfect world)
Would I like to see a Cage or Panter flick? yes. Could Elba be in one of those roles? Quite possible. Am I upset that he would consider Ghost Rider 2? No.
I don’t see why he’d sign a deal with Marvel to be in a movie that Sony is making. I look at it as he signed a deal to be in a movie to fit Marvel’s movieverse and is also in talks to be in Ghost Rider
He still could do a Marvel film, but I think the association will hurt his chances.
I’m not quite sure I’m 100% with you on this assessment, Rodney. After all, we give Ryan Reynolds a pass for playing Hannibal King, his cameo bit in Wolverine, playing DCs Lantern and cross our fingers that he’ll be the newand improved Deadpool.
Yet they are all different characters (or at least we hope in Deadpool’s case) So why is it so different with Elba being offered other parts in other Marvel related films? Elba will be under makeup, save as his Thor co-star Ray Stevenson. Stevenson played The Punisher a few years ago; is that going to hurt the Thor film? Hardly.
Take away the comic connection; it is just another role.
I wanted Black Panther.(I’m sure he did too)
kinda of a step down huh?
characters anyways, not professionally of course
Well he is still “in talks”
Just sayin.
Blade and the Ghost Rider have teamed up in the comics. Ghost Riser has also teamed up with Cage, but I think Blade makes more sense due to the mystical nature of the characters.
Correct me is I’m wrong, but I thought another studio still owned the rights to Ghost Rider. So isn’t it possible or even likely that he wouldn’t be either Cage or Blade in the Ghost Rider movie, but another character altogether.
Sony does own Ghost Rider’s rights, but it is possible they could have bought the rights to other characters and plan to spin them off of this franchise.
I think they are just releasing this film so they don’t lose the rights (which expire this year if they didn’t have a film in production)
Yes, I remember reading the tidbit about the rights expiring if a film wasn;t in production by a specific date, on this very sight, no less. I guess before speculating on his role we’d really need to know what other Marvel characters Sony owns the rights to.
I can see dude easily playing any of the three that have been mentioned, but for some reason Luke Cage seems like the best fit to me. He’s got that street tough guy edge that Cage will need. The Black Panther is more regal than street and I’m a little tired of Blade after 3 movies and the short lived TV show. The recent vampire movie craze in Hollywood makes another Blade movie a possibility.
I think Idris Elba is best suited to portray John Stewart in future Green Lantern sequels. The guy has the chops to play that character.