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Nicolas Cage has turned down movie offers for various reasons over the years. The actor has become quite specific with the kinds of projects he gets himself involved with, as he is known for portraying eccentric characters that always leave a memorable impact.
Still, there are projects he initially refused but later agreed on because of specific reasons again, especially when the director is as persistent as John Woo. Apparently, he managed to convince Cage to sign on to his filmFace/Offeven after the actor rejected it.
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Nicolas Cage Initially Turned DownFace/OffRole
Face/Offis a 1997 science fiction action thriller film helmed byJohn Wooand written by Mike Werb and Michael Colleary. It starredJohn Travoltaas Sean Archer andNicolas Cageas Castor Troy. Woo personally handpicked the actors for his project, and as he has previously worked with Travolta inBroken Arrow, they already knew each other.
Interestingly, Cage initially turned down the offer because he did not want to play the villain. It was later explained to him that for most of the film, Cage would be portraying Sean Archer with Castor Troy’s face, making him the real hero. As complicated as that sounds, Cage was instantly intrigued, and he agreed to do the movie.
Before Travolta and Cage, there were other actors who were considered for the lead roles. When the team was brainstormingFace/Off, they initially wantedArnold SchwarzeneggerandSylvester Stalloneon board as Sean Archer and Castor Troy. This would have been a spectacular film that never came to fruition.
Pirates of the CaribbeanstarJohnny Deppalso showed interest in playing the part of Sean Archer, though unfortunately, he passed over the role after getting a glimpse of the script.
With Travolta and Cage in the lead,Face/Offbecame a massive success. The movie debuted at the top of the domestic box office, and by the end of its theatrical release, it grossed over $245 million worldwide, bagging the 11th spot on the highest-grossing films of 1997.
Face/Offalso had a spotlight at the Academy Awards. It received an Oscar nomination for Best Sound Effects Editing, while taking home two Saturn Awards for Best Director and Best Writing. The movie also won Best Action Sequence and Best On-Screen Duo at the MTV Movie Awards.
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Will There Be A Sequel ToFace/Off?
In 2019, aFace/Offsequel was said to be in the works withAdam Wingardhired to helm the film. The director revealed in his interview withShowbiz Cheat Sheetthat John Travolta and Nicolas Cage are willing to reprise their roles:
“We’re still writing the script, so it’s still in early phases. Simon [Barrett, writer] and I are very close to turning in our draft to Paramount soon. We’ll have to get over those hurdles of do they like this movie? They’ve read our outline. Everybody’s on board with it, but actually turning in the script’s a different thing so we’ll see how everybody reacts to it.”
The movie is still in active development at Paramount Pictures, and as Wingard mentioned, they have to finalize the script first and make sure it’s up to the studio’s standards. Fans are very much assured that Cage and Travolta are more than happy enough to return.
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3533
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
