Nicolas Cage Sheds The CGI In ‘Ghost Rider’ Deleted Scene [Video]

In order to make actor and freak-out artist Nicolas Cage look like the flaming comic book superhero Ghost Rider in Spirit of Vengeance, directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor employed the use of some hefty computer-generated imagery. Although the effect is certainly striking, the film may have worked better without the CGI. In a deleted scene recently uploaded to YouTube, Cage gets down to business as the titular character without all the special effects. Not surprisingly, the clip makes for good viewing.

This collection contains a number of deleted scenes, so you’ll need to fast forward to the 1:50 mark to enjoy all of the pre-CGI Nicolas Cage goodness the clip has to offer. What’s most interesting about the scene is the use of neon lights to simulate the flickering flames which engulf the hero’s head. Cage, meanwhile, is decked out in black-and-white face paint, which only adds to the overall kookiness of the deleted scene.

According to Cinema Blend, the second installment of the Ghost Rider series wasn’t much of a box office success for Sony. During its domestic run, the film only amassed $51 million in ticket sales. In foreign markets, however, the film did quite well, generating $80 million when all was said and done. Although a $132 million worldwide total isn’t anything to sneeze at, chances are this is the character’s last cinematic adventure for quite some time. I hope I’m wrong.

Don’t feel too sorry for Nicolas Cage. Although his Ghost Rider days might be over, the actor still has a number of interesting projects in the works. In addition to starring in Frozen Ground with John Cusack and Vanessa Hudgens, the actor is rumored to have signed on for The Expendables 3. Like it or not, Cage isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Did you enjoy Nicolas Cage in the Ghost Rider movies?