Actor Nicolas Cage, who has done over 100 films in his career including iconic films such as ConAir, The Rock, The Family Man, Gone in 60 Seconds, and Face/Off, recently detailed his time as a film actor is nearing its end.
Nicolas Cage as The Passenger in Sympathy for the Devil (2023), RLJE Films
In an interview with Uproxx, Cage informed the outlet, ” I like staying fresh. I mean, I like to keep mixing it up. I don’t want to get stuck in any genre or any performance style. I want to do it all. And I feel that I’ve, at this point – after 45 years of doing this; that in over 100 movies – I feel I’ve pretty much said what I’ve had to say with cinema.”
He added, “And I’d like to leave on a high note and say, “Adios.” I think I have to do maybe three or four more movies before I can get there, and then hopefully switch formats and go into some other way of expressing my acting.”
Nicolas Cage as Cameron Poe in Con Air (1997), Buena Vista Pictures
RELATED: Margot Robbie Says ‘Barbie’ Not Built “To Be A Trilogy”
Cage indicated the reason he’s not quitting film acting now is because he’s still contractually obligated to do a handful of more movies.
He explained, “I would’ve liked to have left on a high note, like Dream Scenario. But I have other contracts that I have to fulfill, so we’ll see what happens. I mean, I am going to be very severe and very astringent on the selection process moving forward. But for me to do another movie, I do want to explore other formats.”
Later in the interview, Cage reiterated if it wasn’t for his contracts, he would be done with acting already, “I would say, ‘Adios.’ I did what I had to do with cinema and I want to move on now. But I’m not there yet, but hopefully I will be. We’ll see.”
Nicolas Cage as Stanley Goodspeed in The Rock (1996), Buena Vista Pictures
As for what his plans are after films, he indicated he wants to make the jump to episodic television and streaming, “I am very interested in immersion streaming with episodic television. I have seen things that can be done now with characters and the time they’re given to express themselves.”
As an example, he pointed to Bryan Cranston’s character of Walter White in Breaking Bad, “I saw Bryan Cranston stare at a suitcase for an hour on one episode of Breaking Bad. We don’t have time to do that in a feature film, so maybe television is the next best step for me. We’ll see.”
Nicolas Cage as Memphis Raines in Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), Buena Vista Pictures
RELATED: Tim Allen Shares What He Would Like To See Buzz Lightyear Get Up To In ‘Toy Story 5’
He went on to explain he also wants to spend more time with his family, “But more importantly, I want to spend some quality time with my family. And I’m going to be 60 next month and my dad died at 75. So it’s like, if I’m lucky, I have more years than he did, but I don’t know. And so what am I going to do with my next 15 years? Well, what’s important? What’s important is my children and I have a baby daughter.”
“And if I can find an episodic show to do that stays in one place where I don’t have to keep leaving, we can all be together. That, on a personal level, would be great,” Cage relayed. “But also I’m a student and I don’t know if I have anything else to learn in cinema. I might have something to learn in television.”
Nicolas Cage as Jack Campbell in The Family Man (2000), Universal Pictures
Cage went on to explain how he wants to try something new and does not feel movies offer that anymore, ” I feel like I’ve really been eclectic and I’ve explored the margins of film performance. And I’ve done every genre. And so the only thing I haven’t really done is Broadway and I haven’t done a television show. I did one pilot that didn’t get picked up when I was 15, but I think I want to try something else.”
He added, “My point is, as a student, where do I go that would challenge me and stretch me and make me grow in some way? Where would I go where I would learn? How do I pour yeast on my education as an actor? Well, you try things like television immersion or you try things like Broadway. There are other formats to explore.”
Nicolas Cage as Benjamin Franklin Gates in National Treasure (2004), Walt Disney Pictures
Cage is expected to reprise his role as Yuri Orlov in a sequel to Lord of War titled Lords of War. He will also star as a character named Paul in a post-apocalyptic world that sees a father and his twin teenage sons fight to survive on their farmhouse.
The actor is also expected to play a role in the upcoming thriller Longlegs that sees a FBI agent attempting to solve a cold case involving a serial killer connected to the occult.
Finally, Cage is also connected to a film called The Surfer that sees a father return to his hometown in Australia and is humiliated by a group of surfers claiming ownership of the beach where he spent his childhood.
Nicolas Cage as Yuri Orlv in Lord of War (2005), Lionsgate
What do you make of Nicolas Cage saying goodbye to film acting and making the leap into a streaming or TV series?
