Nicolas Cage Speaks Out
Nicolas Cage, renowned for his distinctive acting roles, has addressed concerns about his contentious Superman cameo in DC’s film, The Flash. While the movie faced its share of criticism for various reasons, Cage’s unexpected Superman appearance garnered the most attention, especially given the history of his canceled project, “Superman Lives” with director Tim Burton.
On Set or Not?
Despite murmurs about the authenticity of Cage’s appearance in the movie and speculation about AI’s role in generating the scene, Cage clarified in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, “What I was supposed to do was literally just be standing in an alternate dimension, if you will, and witnessing the destruction of the universe. Kal-El was bearing witness [to] the end of a universe… I was on set for maybe three hours…” He further remarked, “When I went to the picture, it was me fighting a giant spider. I did not do that. That was not what I did.”
The Flash’s Underperformance
The Flash, which had a high-profile marketing campaign leading up to its release, didn’t meet its box office expectations. It shockingly earned less than Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern film. Critics and audiences alike were unimpressed, often pointing to the movie’s subpar CGI as a significant detractor. The scene with the most cameos, including Cage’s Superman, was particularly under fire.
The Burton-Cage Superman That Never Was
The relationship between Cage and Superman dates back to the ’90s when he was cast as the Man of Steel in Tim Burton’s now-famous unproduced film, “Superman Lives.” The project has since become a legendary “what if?” in Hollywood. Cage’s appearance as Superman in The Flash was a nod to this past association. Burton, who has been critical of The Flash, was another voice Cage referenced during his interview.
Cage’s Take on AI
There has been considerable debate over whether Cage’s cameo in The Flash was AI-generated, especially with Tim Burton expressing reservations about the technology. Addressing this, Cage stated, “I don’t think it was [created by] AI. I know Tim is upset about AI, as I am. It was CGI, OK, so that they could de-age me, and I’m fighting a spider.” He further emphasized his agreement with Burton’s sentiments, declaring, “AI is a nightmare to me. It’s inhumane.”
The Aftermath
Regardless of director Andy Muschietti’s defense of the film’s intentional visual effects, fan dissatisfaction remains palpable. While some fans might find solace in the fact that they finally saw Cage as Superman, many wish the circumstances were different.
Fans and film enthusiasts can now view The Flash on various digital platforms to make their own judgments on Cage’s scene and the movie as a whole.
