Fun story by way of the A.V. Club: Lionsgate is moving forward on pre-production on Action No. 1, a heist comedy revolving around the theft of Nicolas Cage's uber-rare Action Comics No. 1, the first appearance of Superman, a copy of which was stolen from him in 2000. It resurfaced last year, and was eventually sold for over two million dollars. The duo of Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon, who also happened to create Reno 911, will write the film, which will apparently focus on the efforts of a group of nerds to infiltrate Cage's house and lift the priceless objet d'art.
The Hollywood Reporter says that, while Nicolas Cage is a character in the movie, and the part was specifically written for the real actor to play himself, it's "unlikely" that Cage will reprise (?) his role as himself. Which leads to all sorts of questions, obviously: do you rewrite the role to make it about some anonymous celebrity? Or, better, do you cast another actor to actually play Nicolas Cage in a film? If so, who the hell do you choose?
I suppose one could go the traditional route and try to find someone who physically resembles Cage and use makeup and mannerisms to sell the performance (although no one really comes to mind at the moment). Or you could go the more bizarre route and go the I'm Not There. route and recast the role with basically anyone who's willing to step into the probably-icky confines of Nic Cage's head. Why not have Natalie Portman as "Nicolas Cage?" Or Samuel L. Jackson? Or Helen Mirren? Or Tom Cruise? The sky's the limit, if you want it to be.
Regardless of approach, who do you think should play Nicolas Cage in a movie about Nicolas Cage, assuming he doesn't want to do it himself?
As far as I'm concerned, Nicolas Cage is the only person capable of playing Nicolas Cage.
Make it super meta and cast John Travolta.
The obvious answer is Alex Navarro.
@Alex said:
This must occur
I would love to see Natalie Portman throwin down some Cage!
@Alex said:
That just blew my mind...
@XQ said:
He's obviously done his research. Get him on the line, Hollywood!
Cast Gary Busey as Cage.
Bill Murray
Ideally once Nic Cage is free from playing himself in the movie, he should play one of the other lead roles. Maybe take a page from Eddie Murphy and play every character in the movie except Nic Cage.
Idris Elba is the obvious choice.
Anyone else think John Cusack sort of resembles Cage or am I just mistaken? That's who I'd cast for the role.
John Travolta did a decent Nic Cage in Face/Off. It could work
Jim Carrey could maybe do it.
The sensitive thing would be to change the script to make it about robbing something else from someone else, maybe even make him a fictional celebrity. Or, at least, using someone to act as him but never show his face (either obscure it or shoot to his back).
Then again, that is not as funny as imagining Eddie Murphy using a lot of make up to perform as Cage.
You are all wrong, this is a job that can only be done by the real "greatest living actor":
Steve Buscemi
That title sounds like it would be a headline for The Onion.
Didn't John Travolta already kinda play Nicholas Cage in that movie? I never actually saw that one though.