Actor Nicolas Cage said he believes passing on projects from major directors, including Christopher Nolan, may have cost him future calls.
Cage made the comments in a New York Times interview ahead of “Spider-Noir,” saying some filmmakers “get their feelings hurt” when actors decline roles. He named Nolan, Woody Allen and Paul Thomas Anderson among directors who did not call him back.
The actor linked the Nolan example to “Insomnia,” the 2002 thriller he turned down. Cage did not say why he passed on the role.
Cage said director David O. Russell later became an exception. The actor said Russell gave him another opportunity after Cage had rejected one of his earlier projects.
Cage now stars in Russell’s upcoming NFL biopic “Madden” alongside Christian Bale and John Mulaney. He described the experience as “beautiful” and said he enjoyed working with Russell.
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The Oscar winner also recalled career advice from David Bowie. Cage said Bowie told him he kept reinventing himself by never getting comfortable with what he was doing.
