Variety is reporting that Sony has moved the debut of the Marvel-based Ghost Rider film from July 14th, 2006 to February 16th, 2007.  The move will necessitate Marvel altering a number of tie-in promotional deals, and at first glance it might appear that Sony has lost faith in the $120 million Ghost Rider film, which stars Nicholas Cage.  However, a closer view of the situation offers some compelling reasons for the change.  Sony has 26 films slated for a 2006 release and opening a comic book-based film just two weeks after Superman Returns debuts doesn't seem like such a great idea.  The second half of the summer season (post July 4th) has been soft for the past two years and this year Sony scored its only major hit (Hitch) over the President's Day weekend, so moving Ghost Rider to President's Day weekend in 2007 may actually aid the film's box office even if it has Marvel scrambling to reconstitute its promotional tie-ins for the film.