April has been a stacked month for new films and one of the most intriguing releases has beenThe Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. A film that seesNicolas Cageplay a heightened version of himself after being hired by the CIA to take down a corrupt billionaire named Javi played by the always lovablePedro Pascal. The film was released this weekend to almost unanimous critical praise. Inan interview with Collider’s Perri Nemiroff, screenwritersTom GormicanandKevin Ettenrevealed the film could have looked even stranger if they were not able to get Cage to play himself. The pair revealed who could have filled Cage’s massive talent.
In the interview, Gormican told Collider, “Nic has said, ‘I think if Gene Wilder were alive he would have been a great idea to play me.’ I don’t know who could do Nicolas Cage.’” Etten had suggestedChristian Baleand Gormican confirmed, “Christian Bale orDaniel Day-Lewisin full prosthetics probably.”
It is hard to say what would have been more insane. Seeing Bale play Cage or Day-Lewis. Bale has dived into some crazy roles like Patrick Bateman inAmerican Psychoand Dick Cheney inVice. Some would even call his turn as Batman inThe Dark Knight Trilogyenough insanity to qualify him for the role of Nick Cage. Then there is Day-Lewis, who has won three Academy Awards for his transformative performances inMy Left Foot,There Will Be Blood, andLincoln. The latter of which, he famously portrayed the sixteenth President of the United States,Abraham Lincoln. And do you know who loved Lincoln? The one and only Ben Gates. The treasure hunter Cage played in theNational Treasurefilms and Lincoln was a key player in that franchise’s second entryBook of Secrets. Now there is a loony conspiracy for you.
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In the end, no one could’ve done the role justice aside from Cage himself, as Etten said:
“I think there were moments when once we had written it and we were trying to get the project going, there were times when I think, personally, selfishly because I wanted to make money and sell this script somewhere, we’d go, ‘Um, maybe this actor or that actor.' But end of the day, no. Nobody else could have done it.”
While it would have been interesting to see Bale or Day-Lewis hilariously come out of retirement to play this legend, it would have felt weird to have a film that openly celebrated Cage’s iconic career not feature the actor. There is only one Nic Cage — be sure to check out Collider’s full interview with the Etten and Gormican for more fun behind-the-scenes stories from the film.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talentstars Cage, Pascal,Tiffany Haddish,Ike Barinholtz, andNeil Patrick Harris. The absurd action-comedy is in theaters now.
