Ghost Rider required extensive CGI to transform Nicolas Cage into the Marvel superhero, but were his impressive abs real or the result of visual effects?
Nicolas Cage starred in Ghost Rider, and a particular shirtless scene sparked debate: were his abs authentic or digitally enhanced? The 2007 Marvel film saw Cage embrace the superhero genre, a decade after his planned role as Superman in Superman Lives. Directed by Mark Steven Johnson, Ghost Rider featured Cage as motorbike stuntman Johnny Blaze, who becomes possessed by the Spirit of Vengeance, acquiring the character’s iconic flaming skull and motorcycle.
Ghost Rider emerged as the superhero movie landscape was evolving and received a mixed reception upon its release. The origin film earned over $225 million worldwide, despite lackluster reviews, which was enough to warrant a sequel. Despite its flaws, Ghost Rider offered audiences another eccentric performance by Cage (something he has become known for in recent years). One scene in the film surprised audiences for a different reason: Cage’s new, toned physique. The shirtless scene was so striking that it led some viewers to question if his abs were created with CGI.
The authenticity of Cage’s abs became a topic of discussion when Ghost Rider was released and persists even today. So, what’s the truth behind his abs? Nicolas Cage’s abs in Ghost Rider‘s shirtless scene were, in fact, real. The actor – who was 42 during filming – confirmed in interviews that this physique resulted from significant hard work. He told IndieLondon that he avoided eating anything on the day of the shirtless mirror scene, consuming only candy corn sugar to enhance the visibility of his six-pack abs.
Cage’s physical transformation for Ghost Rider places him among the many actors who have undergone significant body changes to portray a superhero and then showcased their physique in a shirtless scene. Tobey Maguire’s enhanced muscles for Spider-Man are visible early in the film, while Paul Rudd and Chris Pratt recently highlighted their transformations for the MCU – in Ant-Man and Guardians of the Galaxy, respectively. This practice isn’t exclusive to Marvel movies, as Ben Affleck achieved a ripped physique to play Batman, which viewers saw during his workout scene in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Viewers of Ghost Rider who questioned the authenticity of Cage’s abs aren’t alone, as co-star Eva Mendes admitted in an interview that she would have assumed they were CGI if she hadn’t seen them in person. The film did employ substantial VFX to transform Cage into Ghost Rider, although his abs remained unaffected. The production team did, however, digitally remove tattoos from Cage’s body – including one on his left arm depicting, ironically, a flaming skull. This, however, was the extent of CGI used on Cage in the film Ghost Rider.