Nicolas Cage Opens Up About the Nightmare of His 'The Flash' Cameo
Nicolas Cage dismisses rumors about his supposed nightmare experience during a cameo appearance in The Flash, revealing that he was not involved in any of the reported incidents Find out the truth behind Cage's involvement in the scrapped Superman Lives project (350 characters)
Article Summary
Nicolas Cage opened up about his brief cameo appearance in The Flash as Superman, a part he was once meant to play.
Cage spent an hour filming a captivating scene in which his character, with no lines, evoked powerful emotions solely through his expressive eyes while witnessing the annihilation of the universe.
Cage was taken aback by the sight of his character engaging in a fierce battle against a colossal spider in the movie, as he had no memory of filming that particular scene. He speculated that it must have been crafted using CGI rather than AI.
Although The Flash did not meet the high expectations of Warner Bros. Discovery and DC Studios, there was a brief moment in the film that had fans everywhere cheering. After years of anticipation, Nicolas Cage finally donned the Superman suit and cape, reprising a role that was unfairly taken from him in the late '90s. As a self-proclaimed Superman superfan, Cage was devastated when the Tim Burton-directed film was cancelled, so getting the opportunity to embody the character, even if only for a short time in Andy Muschietti's unsuccessful summer movie, The Flash, meant a lot to him. In an interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, the iconic actor addressed some of the rumors surrounding his involvement in the film and set the record straight.
"First and foremost, I was physically on set," Cage clarified, dismissing claims that his cameo was recycled footage from Superman Lives. "I actually filmed a scene in the suit for about an hour," he added. Although his time on set was brief, it was a live appearance from him, despite the use of CGI de-aging to make him look younger and create the illusion that he wasn't actually present during filming. However, there is still some ambiguity surrounding Cage's scene in The Flash, as he revealed that it wasn't him fighting the giant spider.
What I was supposed to do was simply stand in an alternate dimension and witness the destruction of the universe. Kal-El was there to witness the end of a universe, and considering the limited time I had, you can imagine the impact and emotions I had to convey through my eyes, given that I had no dialogue. So that's exactly what I did.
Given this context, you can understand the actor's surprise when he watched the film and saw his Superman battling a large spider. "When I saw the movie, it showed me fighting a giant spider," Cage reveals, emphasizing that this wasn't what he did. This comment led many to believe that the creative team used artificial intelligence, which has been a subject of debate, to fill in the missing scenes. Cage clarifies, "I don't think it was created by AI. It was CGI, used to de-age me, and evidently, I'm fighting a spider. I didn't have any involvement in that, so I'm unsure what happened there." Reinforcing his role in the film, Cage concludes, "I literally shot a scene for about an hour, wearing the suit, portraying the devastation of a universe, and attempting to express loss, sadness, and terror through my eyes. That's all I did."
Nicolas Cage and the Scrapped Superman Lives
Superman Lives appeared to have all the ingredients for a box office success at Warner Bros. The involvement of Kevin Smith, followed by Wesley Strick and Dan Gilroy as writers, along with the directorial commitment of Burton, suggested that the film had the potential to become a modern superhero masterpiece. However, despite two years of planning and numerous alterations, the studio ultimately decided to abandon the project due to concerns about its high financial investment in a storyline that may not resonate with the audience.
Portraying Kal-El after all these years must have been a dream come true for Cage. In the film, he played a version of the hero who witnessed the collapse of universes due to the actions of Barry Allen, also known as The Flash, portrayed by Ezra Miller. Although it didn't achieve the expected box office success, the movie offered enjoyable cameos and took audiences on a thrilling multiverse-hopping journey.
You can now watch The Flash and witness Cage's portrayal of Superman in all its glory on Max streaming platform.
'The Flash' on Max
The Flash
Barry Allen harnesses his extraordinary speed to alter the course of history, but his noble endeavor to rescue his loved ones inadvertently leads to a reality devoid of superheroes. Now, he finds himself in a exhilarating race against time, striving to safeguard the fate of humanity.
Scheduled to hit theaters on June 16, 2023, "The Flash" is helmed by director Andres Muschietti and features a stellar cast including Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, and Sasha Calle. With a PG-13 rating, this thrilling movie belongs to the genres of superhero, action, adventure, fantasy, and sci-fi. Produced by Warner Bros., the screenplay is crafted by Gardner Fox, Joby Harold, and Harry Lampert. "The Flash" belongs to the esteemed DC franchise.
Editor's P/S
Nicolas Cage's involvement in The Flash has been a rollercoaster ride for fans. After years of anticipation, Cage finally got to wear the Superman suit, but his appearance was met with mixed reactions. Some fans were thrilled to see him in the role, while others were disappointed that his role was so brief. Cage has since spoken out about his experience on the film, revealing that he was not involved in any of the reported incidents. He also clarified that he did not film the scene where Superman fights a giant spider, which was a surprise to many fans.
Cage's comments have shed some light on the behind-the-scenes drama surrounding The Flash. It is clear that the film underwent significant changes during production, and Cage's role was one of the casualties. Despite the controversy, Cage remains a beloved figure among comic book fans, and his brief appearance in The Flash is sure to be remembered for years to come.
