Around 2014, after Nicolas Cage had a series of box office flops with e.g. “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” and “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,” the actor began to become the face of direct-to-VOD action movies. These roles piled up in the dozens, as reports surfaced that Cage blew up his $ 150 million fortune, owed the IRS $ 6.3 million in property taxes, and took on every acting role he could to get out of debt. The actor recently clarified this period of his life in an interview with GQ magazine.
“I have all these creditors and the IRS, and I spend $ 20,000 a month trying to keep my mother out of a psychiatric institution, and I can not,” Cage said of his debt. “It all happened at once.”
Cage said he refused to get to the point where he would have to file for bankruptcy even though people in his life told him he should. This was where the endless series of Cage-starred VOD movies came in handy, though the Oscar winner stressed that he never took on a role he did not believe in – even though the role helped him avoid bankruptcy.
“When I was making four movies a year, back to back, I still had to find something in them to be able to give it my all,” Cage said. “They did not work, all of them. Some of them were amazing, like ‘Mandy’, but some of them did not work. But I never called in. So if there was a misunderstanding, it was. That I just did it and did not care. I was caring. “
According to GQ, Cage was officially “done paying off all his debts” a year and a half ago after signing to star in “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”. The film, which stars Cage as a fictional version of itself, has just made its debut to strong reviews at the SXSW Film Festival. Cage said he had to switch to VOD movies because “the phone stopped ringing” with offers of studio movies.
“It was like, ‘What do you think we’re not doing’ National Treasure 3? ‘ That’s 14 years ago. Why not? ‘”Said Cage.” Well,’ Sorcerer’s Apprentice ‘did not work and’ Ghost Rider ‘did not really sell tickets. And ‘Drive Angry’ that just came and went. “
Cage said “National Treasure 3” remains far out of reach, but the actor enjoys staying in his indie court. “I enjoy making movies like ‘Pig’ and ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ more than I enjoy making movies like ‘National Treasure,'” he said. Although Cage would not elaborate, he hinted that Disney left him in the dust during his career downturn as one of the reasons a third “National Treasure” movie is not in the cards.
“When I talk about good weather friends in Hollywood, I’m not talking about [‘National Treasure’ producer] Jerry Bruckheimer, “said Cage.” I’m talking about Disney. They are like a sea ship. Once they go in a certain direction, you have to have a million tugs to try to turn it around. “
Go to GQ’s website to read Cage’s full profile. “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” opens on April 22nd.