Nic Cage has always been a versatile performer. Leading Hollywood blockbusters like Con Air and The Rock. Humbling himself in Adaptation and Leaving Las Vegas. Fuming across oddball movies both good and atrocious. At New York Comic Con this weekend, the prolific actor revealed one line he’s unwilling to cross, and why it’s unlikely he’ll be partnering with Amazon again any time soon: AI.
“Amazon is a very AI friendly company to the tune of 50 billion dollars invested to OpenAI,” Cage said during a panel. “I am not an AI friendly actor. I didn’t sign the waiver to let them use AI on Spider-Noir. I’m probably not going to be working with that studio again. But that’s OK.”
In one sense, Amazon has made it easy for him. Despite positive reviews, the monolithic streamer and paper towel vendor snuffed out Spider-Noir last month, where Cage played a gumshoe version of web-slinger Ben Reilly. How much refusing AI factored into the decision is unconfirmed, but the finished project has a strong sound stage look that pairs nicely with private eye vibes. Despite the setback, Cage will still continue to play Reilly in Sony’s animated Spider-Verse films, where he first debuted as the character.
During the panel, Cage said that the Hollywood AI push has made him far more interested in working with younger directors, reared on YouTube DIY techniques and seem to be far more intolerant to the generative tech than older peers. He specifically cited hopes to collaborate with Backrooms director Kane Parsons, who has been a vocal AI critic as well.
Fans online obviously praised Cage for his decision making and refusing to play along with AI-generated entertainment. Amid the flowers, some posters used the opportunity to resurface rumors that Cage is a massive fan of Nintendo 64-era Bomberman games, now backed with photo evidence. It seems the actor is a man of good taste on multiple fronts.
