Nicolas Cage Says He Doesn’t Separate Heroes and Villains When Choosing Roles

Nicolas Cage emphasizes that he has never subscribed to the traditional dichotomy of heroes versus villains. Instead, he selects acting roles based on their depth, unpredictability, and creative richness, rather than moral labels. This perspective was shared during the premiere of *Spider-Noir* at the Regal Times Square in New York City. The acclaimed actor, who has won an Oscar, explained that limiting himself to a specific type of character has never appealed to him—even if certain roles might bring greater commercial success. He believes that both protagonists and antagonists are vital to storytelling because they illuminate different facets of human nature. For Cage, embracing a diverse range of characters is key to maintaining his passion for acting. He finds that exploring radically different personalities allows him to continuously discover new artistic avenues and avoid falling into predictable Hollywood stereotypes. Over the years, Cage has built a reputation for his versatility—flipping seamlessly between action movies, psychological dramas, avant-garde independent films, and comic-book adaptations. In addition, Cage shared an intriguing story about his early Marvel connections. He revealed that he once discussed the possibility of playing Green Goblin with director Sam Raimi during the development of the original *Spider-Man* film. However, he ultimately decided to pass on the role in favor of starring in *Adaptation.* He explained that at the time, choosing a more intimate and intellectually unconventional project felt like the right artistic move. This decision paid off, as *Adaptation* earned him an Academy Award nomination and cemented his reputation as Hollywood’s most unconventional leading man. Though he declined the Green Goblin role, Cage eventually entered the Marvel universe through other projects. He played Ghost Rider in the 2007 film *Ghost Rider* and reprised the role in its 2011 sequel. These films allowed him to blend his affinity for eccentric, emotionally charged characters with the spectacle of superhero cinema—a perfect fit for his expressive acting style. Now, Cage is back in the spotlight thanks to *Spider-Noir*, which showcases his continued interest in darker, more stylized roles. The project builds upon his previous work voicing a noir-inspired version of Spider-Man in *Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse*. Throughout his career, Cage maintains that his approach to choosing roles remains consistent: he looks beyond the moral labels of “good” or “evil” and instead seeks characters that are surprising, emotionally complex, and creatively demanding—roles that challenge him and foster his growth as an actor.