Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage might be finally transitioning away from strictly making smaller VOD features. Cage is playing himself in Lionsgate‘s meta-movie “The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent” and most recently was cast as Universal‘s newest incarnation of Count Dracula in the horror-comedy “Renfield” starring opposite Nicholas Hoult, which could mean he might continue that role in other Universal Monsters projects. During an interview with GQ, Cage is giving some idea of what else is on the horizon for him and downplays rumblings of his return to one of his popular franchises.
There is a chance Cage may reunite with his famous uncle, Francis Ford Coppola, for the first time since 1986’s “Peggy Sue Got Married,” as the two are talking about a small role in the $120 million-budgeted epic “Megalopolis.” A project that Coppola is self-financing and is expected to begin shooting later this year in NYC.
“I’m just going to focus on being extremely selective, as selective as I can be,” Cage said of being a little pickier with future role selections. “I would like to make every movie as if it were my last.”
However, the actor isn’t as confident about reuniting with mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer for “National Treasure 3” or working with Disney anytime soon.
“The phone stopped ringing,” Cage said of his pivot from studio blockbusters to VOD. “It was like, ‘What do you mean we’re not doing ‘National Treasure 3’? It’s been 14 years. Why not?’” Cage seemed to be aware of why things never really connected, explaining, “Well, ‘Sorcerer’s Apprentice‘ didn’t work, and ‘Ghost Rider‘ didn’t really sell tickets. And ‘Drive Angry,‘ that just came and went.”
Cage continued to dismiss suggestions that “National Treasure 3” is happening after being told by the interviewer that Bruckheimer told him they were developing something, “When I talk about fair-weather friends in Hollywood, I’m not talking about Jerry. I’m talking about Disney. They’re like an ocean liner. Once they go in a certain direction, you’ve got to get a million tugboats to try to swivel it back around.”
Hopefully, the actor will continue getting meaty studio offers, even if they’re not coming from Disney.
“The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” is set to debut at the SXSW Film Festival before it hits theaters on April 22.