According to Nicolas Cage, Christopher Nolan, the director behind The Odyssey, is among the filmmakers who cease communication after he declines a project. The National Treasure and Longlegs actor discussed his strained history with several industry heavyweights during an interview with The New York Times. This conversation followed his admission that he previously turned down a project from American Hustle helmer David O. Russell a long time ago.
While Cage is currently preparing to lead Russell’s Madden biopic, he noted that directors rarely reach out again after a refusal. Russell stands out as the sole filmmaker who offered him another opportunity.
“Most of them, they get their feelings hurt and don’t call you back. It’s happened a million times to me. It’s happened with Christopher Nolan, it’s happened with Woody Allen, it’s happened with Paul Thomas Anderson. They don’t call me back.”
Regarding Nolan, Cage mentioned he passed on Insomnia. As for Anderson, who recently secured Best Picture and Director honours for One Battle After Another at the 98th Academy Awards, the actor described the collaboration as merely a very early concept.
“He’d shown me a short film with Philip Baker Hall – and we were going to do something and it didn’t work out,” he added.
The actor praised Russell for considering him for Madden, noting the gesture demonstrated significant class. The movie is scheduled to release this Thanksgiving.
“Anyway, David did call me,” Cage continued, “and it showed a lot of class that he would call me back and invite me again, and I didn’t want to say no to him again because I have great respect for his talent. And it was a beautiful experience. I enjoyed working with David.”
He is also attached to a live-action superhero series for Prime Video titled Spider-Noir. The production begins this week and features the actor in a part he describes as 70 percent Humphrey Bogart and 30 percent Bugs Bunny.
