Nicolas Cage’s critique of the Marvel Cinematic Universe during a recent conversation at Fan Expo Dallas (via The Playlist) is quickly gaining traction on social media, with many people either agreeing with the Oscar winner or questioning him given his own ties to superhero projects.
“I say this with love,” Cage said at the convention. “When I see these smart, remarkably talented 50-plus comedians putting on these ridiculous outfits and getting ready for battle – let’s face it, this is all about fighting – it’s hard for me not to be reminded that the MCU is becoming a well-funded, glorified WWE.”
Cage is not a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, although he did play the title character in Sony’s Marvel series “Spider-Black.” The series was canceled after one season consisting of eight episodes. Cage also played the Marvel superhero Ghost Rider in two films, 2007’s “Ghost Rider” and 2012’s “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,” and now the comic book character is officially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe courtesy of Ryan Gosling. MCU’s “Ghost Rider” directed by Shawn Levy is on the release schedule for July 28, 2028.
Cage’s “Spider-Noir” series was based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man Noir and was adapted for television by Oren Uziel. The series was set during the Great Depression and starred Cage as Ben Reilly, “a seasoned, down-on-his-luck private detective in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life in the wake of a deeply personal tragedy, as the city’s one and only superhero.” »
Talk to Variety before the series premiere, Cage said he was drawn to “Spider-Noir” not because of its superhero roots but because the series was designed in black and white like a classic film noir (and thus with undertones of German expressionism).
“I wanted to try to create an essence of some of my favorite old world actors because I wanted to embody that style – Bogart, Cagney, Edward G. Robinson – and I designed my performance to fit into the black and white format,” Cage said, adding that being on a television show made him nervous at first.
“It was scary and risky,” he continued. “I was constantly afraid of getting fired, because I was doing this thing of channeling old actors and pitting it against the Stan Lee masterpiece that is ‘Spider-Man’ to create this sort of Roy Lichtenstein pop-art feel. I didn’t know until I finally saw all eight episodes if it was going to work.”
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