‘Spider Noir’ & ‘Ghost Rider’ Star Nicolas Cage Compares Marvel Event Pics To TV Wrestling: “The MCU Is Becoming A Well-Funded & Glorified WWE”
We’ve seen some odd choices made recently concerning Sony/Amazon‘s “Spider-Man” footprint on television, as right after it was revealed that Nicolas Cage‘s live-action variant series “Spider Noir” was being canceled after a single season (despite some solid viewership), a NEW Prime Video series featuring another take on Ben Reilly is in the works (announced yesterday) and will attempt to adapt The Clone Saga. While Cage hasn’t commented on that new Clone Saga series, he certainly has an opinion on Marvel Studios‘ big event movies (we assume alluding to “Avengers” installments) and the massive character lineups in them.
In the wake of the show’s cancellation, Cage appeared at a panel at Fan Expo Dallas earlier in the month and shared his feelings on the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe. He suggests that the overloading of characters and endless fight scenes are comparable to TV wrestling, specifically WWE, and tiptoes around the idea that it might not be exactly a benefit to the talented “thespians.”
I do say this with love. When I see these 50+, otherwise intelligent, remarkably gifted thespians putting on these ridiculous outfits and getting ready for the fight, let’s face it, cutting all to the fight, it’s hard for me not to be reminded that the MCU is becoming a well-funded and glorified WWE,” Cage told the Dallas crowd.
Cage’s, who has played both Ghost Rider and two iterations of Spider-Man, sentiment isn’t terribly new or off-the-wall, as many fans and critics alike have pointed out the tactic of overloading the films with massive character and fight scenes that seemingly distract audiences with spectacle (arguably can overshadow more meaningful substance or character-driven moments), something that is becoming all too apparent with the next two “Avengers” releases as The Russo Brothers and Marvel will, yet again, juggle one of the biggest casts (sadly, who is and isn’t showing up seems to be the main prevailing gimmick alongside RDJ and Chris Evans‘ return).
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At the end of the day, we don’t exactly see superhero movies needing to be precious pieces of acting career landmarks, but the effort certainly shows when one of them clicks with an audience (“Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” in our humble opinion, being able to balance both character and spectacle). The Oscar winner is entitled to his opinion, and having Cage compare the MCU to the WWE may be one of the more on-the-nose criticisms we’ve seen in a while.
You can watch/hear Cage’s statement on the MCU at Fan Expo Dallas below, courtesy of the event’s official YouTube channel.
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