Nicolas Cage taking on "Ghost Rider" sequel

LOS ANGELES  - Nicolas Cage is in early talks to reprise his starring role in a sequel to "Ghost Rider," the 2007 supernatural action movie about the Marvel Comics character.

Plot details for "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" are under wraps, and it is not known if any other characters from the previous movie will return.

Cage's character Johnny Blaze is a stunt motorcyclist who, in order to save the life of a loved one, makes a deal with the devil. His soul is twinned with that of a demon, and he becomes a flaming-skulled man driving a motorcycle from hell.

As with Cage, Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor -- known their for their adrenaline-fueled Jason Statham action vehicles "Crank" and "Crank: High Voltage" -- are in early negotiations to direct the Columbia project. The studio hopes to get principal photography going by late fall.

"Ghost Rider," written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson, grossed almost $230 million worldwide after opening in February 2007 to poor reviews. Columbia faced a ticking-clock scenario under which rights would have reverted to Marvel if it didn't act on a sequel soon. The studio even considered the possibility of going ahead without Cage.

The actor next stars in Disney's "The Sorcerer's Apprentice."