Ghost Rider 2 May Not Star Nicholas Cage

Looks like we may be seeing someone else go all fiery skulled in a Ghost Rider sequel. Cage has already said that he would like to reprise the role and even gave an indication of the plot that it might follow..

"Yes, actually we had a meeting with the studio [Columbia Pictures] about a month, maybe three months ago, and we had a nice talk about that character and maybe taking him international... maybe to Europe. Go on a motorcycle tour through Europe and he's connected with the Church, if you can believe that. So it sort of has elements to it that are very much in the zeitgeist, like Da Vinci Code and things like that."

But that may not make any difference since the actor could well be tied up in other projects, missing Colombia's deadline to make the movie.

This from Vulture...

How badly does Columbia need to get the motor running on its Ghost Rider sequel? So badly that if Nicolas Cage can't commit to making it this year, they may have to make it without him. Insiders confirm to Vulture that Columbia is facing a ticking clock on the rights to the BBQ-skulled Marvel Comics character: Legally, if the studio isn't in production on a sequel by November 14, 2010, the franchise automatically reverts to Marvel — which means the comic company's new owner, Disney.

Apparently Colombia have asked Marvel for an extension so they can get Cage locked into the project, but Cage is being touted to star in a third National Treasure movie which could really throw a spanner in the works. Vulture also claim that .. FlashForward writers Scott Gimple and Seth Hoffman, overseen by their show's creator (and Batman Begins scribe), David S. Goyer, have just turned in a draft of a GR2 script, which Columbia will bring to a still-evolving list of potential directors.

So what do you folks think? Would a sequel work without a big name like Cage? Would a direct sequel work full stop or would it be best to wait to see what Marvel do with it..if anything? And if Cage can't reprise the role of Johnny Blaze, who would be a good pic to replace him?