The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, which arrives in theaters on April 22, sees Hollywood superstar Nicolas Cage playing a humorously warped version of himself. The script by Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten requires him to take on a nearly penniless version of himself that hits a wall in his career and decides to attend a billionaire mega-fan (Pedro Pascal, The Mandalorian) birthday party. The comedic caper, which stands as a testament to Cage's own incredible career, has already received praise from early reviews, thanks to critics who are thrilled to see the mega-star ready to have some fun with his image.
Of course, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is far from the first time Cage has winked at the audience in his film credits, which number well over 100 film credits. Nicolas Cage is best known as someone for whom no role is too small - or too wacky. His captivating charisma makes every one of his movies a treat, but that's far from the only interesting thing about the icon.
Screen Rant recently celebrated both the man and the movie on their Youtube channel, with a video essay on exactly why Cage is the most fascinating star to grace the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For starters, it describes his self-proclaimed "nouveau shamanism" style of acting, which is arguably the biggest draw for Cageheads. The actor has explained the process as avoiding the feeling of faking anything, and bringing the character research with him on set to help embody whichever role he's working on.
Check out the full video below:
Some viewers may be unaware that Nicolas Cage is actually a Coppola by birth and is the nephew of The Godfather's Francis Ford Coppola. The fact that he changed his name to avoid creating distractions instead of trying to bank on his connections already speaks to his upstanding character, but the video further expands on his charitable actions and generous spirit. Not to mention his various comic book connections - from choosing a last name inspired by Luke Cage to the long and storied history between Cage and Superman, fans can't be blamed for hoping the star will make his way back to the DC universe sooner rather than later. Watch the full video to learn many more wild facts about Hollywood's most interesting man!
Cage has put his heart and soul into every single one of his projects, but it's no wonder that he felt playing himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent was one the trickier challenges he's taken on. After all, what character could be more complex and fascinating than he himself is? Even if it is a version of himself that is several degrees removed from his real life. Fans can decide for themselves just how much fact there is in his latest fiction by checking out the film when it opens later this week.
Don't forget to check out Screen Rant's interview with the star himself as well.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent arrives in theaters on April 22.