Nicolas Cage Isn't 'Down' For A Star Wars Role, But Star Trek Is Still On The Table
Nicolas Cage didn't just star in "National Treasure," he is one. Defying category and genre, Cage somehow becomes fully immersed in his roles while also maintaining his larger-than-life persona. In last year's delightfully self-aware buddy comedy "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent," Cage successfully lampooned his entire career playing an exaggerated version of himself. No movie in his diverse filmography was safe. From "Face/Off" to "Guarding Tess," Cage was game to make fun of himself and his unconventional choices as an actor. "Massive Talent" not only revealed Cage is in on the joke, but it also reminded audiences just how diverse his career has been over the last 40 years.
The real joy of "Massive Talent" comes in watching Cage and Pedro Pascal's incredible onscreen chemistry. At the world premiere of the film at SXSW attended by Cage in a plaid, shortbread-inspired suit, and a dapper Pascal, it was clear to everyone in the theater that their crush on each other was real. Any chance to see the two of them in another project together would be welcomed, and it's clear that both actors have tremendous affection for each other.
Pascal has apparently been trying to convince Cage to make an appearance in the "Star Wars" universe at some point, saying that Cage would make a great Mandalorian. Known for their warlike culture and noted for their beskar armor, the Mandalorians pride themselves on rarely, if ever, removing their helmet, depending on their level of zealotry. The "Star Wars" franchise has become famous for offering up brief cameos of notable actors, so is it possible that Cage could make an appearance somewhere in the galaxy, even if we don't actually see his face? In a recent interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, "no is the answer," according to the man himself.
'I'm a Trekkie'
The bombshell news that Cage is more of a fan of "Star Trek" than "Star Wars" really isn't all that surprising. Cage seems like an actor that prefers the more original, thought-provoking science fiction of Gene Roddenberry rather than the high-flying adventure serials of George Lucas. For now, it looks like Pedro Pascal's advances to get Cage to show up in an episode or two of "The Mandalorian" is falling on deaf ears. "I'm not really down," he told Yahoo!. "I'm a Trekkie, man, I'm on the 'Star Trek' ... I'm on the Enterprise, that's where I roll." Cage is of the age where he most likely discovered and fell in love with the original "Star Trek" series before "Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope" hit theaters and changed the world in 1977.
Of course, the two franchises don't have to be mutually exclusive. But Trekkies tend to be a little more vocal about their love for more heady, intellectual sci-fi fare. Cage is certainly no different, and the actor has praise for the original series and the films. "I grew up watching Shatner, I thought Pine was terrific in the movies, I think the movies are outstanding."
William Shatner, of course, played Captain Kirk in the original timeline of "Star Trek," while Chris Pine took over the mantle in the J.J. Abrams reboot where the alternate Kelvin timeline was introduced. Cage may not be aware that there is, in fact, a third Captain Kirk played by Paul Wesley in another alternate timeline in the Paramount+ show "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds." Maybe Cage can appear in an alternate "Star Trek" timeline at some point, too, a possibility that would hopefully entice him to embark on a voyage exploring the final frontier.
Would Nicolas Cage fit into the Star Wars universe?
Cage has stuck his toe into the science fiction genre before in the underrated (but still ridiculous) mind-bender "Next" about a Las Vegas magician cursed with the ability to see future events minutes before they actually occur. If Cage does ever return to the world of science fiction, it sounds like he would prefer to dive into a more serious premise with some real social commentary attached, telling Yahoo!:
"To me, what science fiction is really all about, and why it's such an important genre, is that is really where you can say whatever you want, however you feel, you put it on a different planet, you put it on a different time in the future, and you can without people just jumping on you."
Cage is absolutely right in saying that provocative sci-fi can hide a beneficial message about our world and society, disguising what could be a bitter pill to swallow inside a riveting exploration of other planets. "You can really express your thoughts, like [George] Orwell or whomever in the science fiction format, and 'Star Trek' really embraced that," added Cage.
The "Star Trek" series doesn't have a complete monopoly on that, though. While the sci-fi fantasy of "Star Wars" is more laser-focused on themes of imperialism and rebellion, the galaxy still allows for a lot of room to maneuver and explore new ideas. Here's to hoping that Cage will be open to appearing in one or both franchises at some point, as quite a few actors have already done in the past. A cameo or full-fledged character developed for Cage would be incredible, but his presence in "Star Trek" might fit his strengths better. Besides, Nicolas Cage in "Star Wars" would probably break the internet.