Nicolas Cage has some candid words for those who think he'd be a great fit for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At this point, it seems like nobody is off-limits for the arguably eminent comic book franchise, whether it be in the movies or the ever-growing number of excellent TV shows. But things may not be so simple for this seasoned actor.
Fresh off some recent buzz around his upcoming Dracula horror comedy film Renfield, Cage seems to be as confident in himself as ever. The man has been the star of films that run the gamut of fan and critical reception, boasting a particular range that most would deem improbable at best. To some, he's a magnet for the bizarre and surreal, as well as the unfortunate. But to others, he's one of Hollywood's most genuine faces, free to take the roles he wants when he wants while maintaining an enviable level of self-awareness. But what about himself? Could a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie soon be one of those projects he deems worthy?
Well, he answered that question rather diplomatically during an interview at the Miami Film Festival, where he was honored with Variety's Legend and Groundbreaker Award. "I've gotta be nice about Marvel movies, because I named myself after a Stan Lee character named Luke Cage," Cage said, referencing his stage name. "What am I going to do, put Marvel movies down? Stan Lee is my surrealistic father. He named me. I understand what the frustration is. I get it. But I think there's plenty of room for everybody. I'm seeing movies like Tár. I’m seeing all kinds of artistic and independently driven movies. I think there's plenty of room for everybody."
If that didn't seem blunt enough, he had one more thing to add for those still curious. "I don't need to be in the MCU, I'm Nic Cage." That's exactly the kind of energy one might expect from the man who also expertly shut down the idea of appearing in The Mandalorian. But it also makes sense given his favorite genres to act in, which he later elaborated on. "My personal favorite is independently spirited family drama," he stated. "I like movies that take place at home and the struggles we have at home and how we're trying to either succeed and become better people or succumb to the pressures of the human experience."
But that isn't his only favorite genre, and the other will likely come as little surprise to those familiar with his more enjoyably eccentric works like the Five Nights at Freddy's-inspired Willy's Wonderland. "My other favorite genre, I would say would be horror," he continued. "Some of the most talented artistic people now are making horror films. I think you can do so much. The reason why science fiction and horror is so important to me is that it gave me a format where I could express some of my more surrealistic and abstract dreams with film performance."
The takeaway here seems to be that Cage's best movies are often the ones that he specifically wanted to do, and he knows what he wants. Trying to force such a chaotic legend into the orderly world of Marvel would almost feel like a disservice to both the man and the franchise. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has its place in entertainment and so does Cage. While they'll likely never intersect, they both certainly have a lot to offer.
Source: Variety