When it comes to forging a personal connection with the characters he plays, Nicolas Cage belongs to a rare class of actors. Even before transforming into Marvel’s supernatural hero, his immense love for comic books and unconventional career moves already gave him an edge.
With the cinematic version of ‘Ghost Rider,’ Cage’s sheer coincidence paved the way. Behind the scenes of what would eventually become one of his most memorable films was a series of unlikely casting competitions, which also included Johnny Depp. Despite this, with bizarre onset problems, Cage pulled the strings to play the iconic and beloved character Johnny Blaze.
Cage Pursued ‘Ghost Rider’ After Hearing Depp Was In The Running
When ‘Ghost Rider‘ (2007) began its pre-production, the creators considered several other actors for the role of Johnny Blaze, besides Nicolas Cage. Johnny Depp was among those considered for the role, although Cage would eventually get the coveted part. Upon learning that Depp was in the running, the actor immediately contacted the filmmakers, convincing them to cast him in the role.
As a dedicated comic book fan since his childhood days, Ghost Rider had always been among his favorite characters. This move came as no surprise, especially considering how many times Cage had shown his love for comic books throughout his career.
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Notably, his pseudonym, ‘Nicolas Cage,’ draws from Marvel’s hero Luke Cage, and he is also obsessed with acquiring rare comic books. According to director Mark Steven Johnson, Cage’s sincere love for the character made him the ideal candidate for playing Johnny once the project finally gained momentum.
Director Mark Steven Johnson Called Cage “The Biggest Ghost Rider Fan“
Moreover, a rather strange coincidence further proved Cage’s dedication to the 2007 superhero movie. According to Mark Steven Johnson, Cage had an actual Ghost Rider tattoo on his shoulder when the two men first met. As a lifelong admirer of Marvel’s hero, the actor used this tattoo as one way to show his devotion, which ultimately won over Johnson.
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The filmmaker later claimed that Cage was perhaps “the biggest Ghost Rider” fan he had ever met. Strangely enough, Cage’s obsession with Ghost Rider would cause him quite a few problems during the production of the film itself. Since Johnny Blaze could not logically have a tattoo of the supernatural entity, the makeup team had to conceal the actor’s tattoo whenever he shot scenes.
Cage himself later jokingly noted the irony, pointing out that he had to hide an actual Ghost Rider tattoo while portraying the titular superhero. Did you like Nicolas Cage’s performance? Let us know in the comments section below.
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