The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent star Nicolas Cage has weighed in on the recent Marvel movie backlash that's been doing the rounds, and, not too surprisingly, the lifelong comic book fan is firmly in the corner of superhero cinema.
Over the past few years, several legendary directors such as Martin Scorsese and Cage's uncle Francis Ford Coppola have bemoaned the comic book movie boom, dismissing superhero films as little more than "theme park rides" and blaming their surge in popularity for the current state of the film industry.
“Yeah, why do they do that?” Cage responded to GQ when asked about the trend of bashing Marvel and comic book films. “I don’t understand the conflict. I don’t agree with them on that perception or opinion.”
“Marvel has done a really excellent job of entertaining the whole family," he continued. "They put a lot of thought into it. I mean, it’s definitely had a big progression from when I was doing the first two Ghost Rider movies. Kevin Feige, or whoever is behind that machine, has found a masterful way of weaving the stories together and interconnecting all the characters.”
“What could be wrong with wholesome entertainment that is appealing to the parents and the children, and gives people something to look forward to?” the Kick-Ass star added. “I just, I don’t see what the issue is.”
As Cage mentions, he played Ghost Rider in two rather underwhelming movies back in 2007 and 2011, but has yet to make the leap into The MCU. There have been rumors that he might return as the Spirit of Vengeance for this year's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but even if that is on the agenda, he's not about to give anything away.
“Oh, I don’t think so. I don’t think they’re casting me. I mean, I would do it. It would be fun. I’d love to work with Cumberbatch, but I don’t think that’s happening.”
What do you make of Cage's comments? Let us know in the usual place, and be sure to head on over to FearHQ.com to get a first look at the actor in costume as Dracula on the set of Renfield!