Ever since Sony first started talking about a Ghost Rider sequel, it sounded like a terrible idea. Sure, the first movie made $228 million worldwide, but it satisfied neither fans nor critics, and left no one with any interest in seeing the story continued. But after choosing Crank directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor to take over the reins, the franchise now seems to be doing a complete 180. The footage from Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance that screened at the San Diego Comic-Con this year had a lot of people buzzing, and word on the street is that it’s 100 times more violent and badass than Mark Steven Johnson’s first film.

This week a few official photos from the movie have turned up online, and although we don’t get a glimpse of Ciarán Hinds as The Devil, we do get to see some new flaming skull effects and Idris Elba, who plays “an alcoholic warrior monk tasked with finding Ghost Rider.” I trust that Neveldine and Taylor know how to use Nic Cage to his fullest potential, and with any luck this movie will deliver the gritty over-the-top mayhem that I was hoping to get from Drive Angry. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance also co-stars Christopher Lambert, Johnny Whitworth and Violante Placido, and it hits theatres on February 17th, 2012. Check out the photos after the jump.