Ghost Rider, Karate Kid Sequels In Development, Obviously

So a few weeks ago I'm in a bar with a friend, and we're talking movies, alas, and he says, "You hear about the Ghost Writer sequel?" I thought about this and wondered who slipped drugs into my beer. "A Ghost Writer sequel?" I repeated. "What would that even be? Roman Polanski's under house arrest! What characters would even be around for it?" Friendo shook his head. "No, no, no -- Ghost RIDER. The Nicolas Cage thing? Marvel Comics? Hairpiece?" I sheepishly, desperately gulped the rest of my beer. Anyway, this is the scenic route to saying that Sony is finally moving on a Ghost Rider sequel, and Cage is finally considering joining up. Oh, and Karate Kid 2 isn't far behind.

According to reports out of Sony, Crank creative tandem Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor are in talks to direct Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, and Cage is in the early negotiations phase that usually ends with him saying, "Yes," because, well, you know. The actor has not made much secret of where he wants the sequel to go (hint: Europe), asking for a "reconceive" from the studio before officially committing to climb back on the flame-y motorcycle of franchise glory. Neveldine and Taylor, who notoriously left Jonah Hex after creative differences with Josh Brolin, are apparently ready to lend their candid, kinetic intensity to GR:SOV, and I guess we'll see how they fit in Cage's own increasingly sublime worldview.

The studio has less of a behind-the-scenes drama with The Karate Kid 2, which is also said to be in the works; Sony execs are taking pitches as we speak. This is easy: Just throw Jaden Smith on the mat with his 9-year-old Amazon sister Willow and let the mutual smackdown begin.

· Nicolas Cage and 'Crank' duo taking on Ghost Rider sequel [THR]

· Sony Pics High-Kicking Karate Kid Sequel [Deadline]