There's been a flood of superheroes hitting the silver screen of late so it was no surprise to see some of them turn up in person at a comic-book convention in San Diego last week. Nicolas Cage, who is set to play one of his favourite Marvel comic characters – Johnny Blaze - and his on-screen beau Eva Mendes put in an appearance as did Spider-Man's Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst.
The Face Off star and Hitch actress were busy promoting their new flick Ghost Rider, about the flaming-skulled crime fighter. And there's no denying his devotion to his latest role. The self-confessed comic-book fan had the skull tattooed on his arm three years before the film was even made and it had to be airbrushed out while he made the movie.
He seemed, however, to be paying homage to another of his heroes, Elvis Presley, at the 1000-strong Comic-Con event - donning rock and roll shades and white leather jacket. While he's thrilled about bringing his favourite character to life on the big screen, Nicolas admitted that he's not too worried about finding out what the die-hard fans think. "I'm pretty computer-illiterate, " he admitted. "So I have no idea what people have been writing about me or the movie."
Dad-to-be Tobey Maguire was drowned out by applause as he spoke about the next Spider-Man installment. The actor who is expecting his first child with his fiancée Jennifer Meyer, thrilled fans by suggesting Spider-Man 3 may not be the last outing for the superhero. "There will be some conclusions, though I wouldn't say it's necessarily the end," he revealed. "If there are stories worth telling, then we'll tell them." And he's clearly proud about ongoing developments in the wardrobe department. Speaking of his new black costume, he joked: "It's a little sleeker, a little sexier. A lot like me."
Tobey was joined by on-screen love interest Kirsten Dunst who was keeping tight-lipped about any romantic developments in the next of the popular movie franchise due out on May 4 next year. "Mary Jane and Peter Parker have a deep emotional bond," was all she would say when asked about their relationship.
Ghost Rider hits UK cinemas on March 23 and US screens on February 16 next year.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
