Nicolas Cage relented the idea of ‘playing himself’ in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent; here’s why!

While some like being real—quite literally—in front of the camera, not all actors want to play their real selves on screen. Case in point: Hollywood star Nicolas Cage.

The good news for Nicolas Cage fans is that the star’s latest action-comedy, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, will start streaming on Lionsgate Play on August 12, 2022. 

The film, directed by Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten, is a raw, real, and funny love letter to Nicolas Cage himself, and has a hilarious take on the star’s life.

In the film, Cage is made to live up to his past glory and has to channel his on-screen personas that are regarded as cult classics in the cinematic world.

Elaborating on why he didn’t want to play himself in the movie but gave in eventually, Nicolas Cage said in a statement to the media that it was "terrifying" at first and an adventure that seemed "quite exciting" later.

"I received a very nice letter from Tom... The first act really terrified me. I thought Tom was taking us on an adventure that was really quite exciting," he shared, before adding that the director’s offbeat and creatively rich ideas for the movie made him say yes.

"I’ve done things that have always interested me and drawn me down this path. The film is an imagination based on Tom’s interpretation of what my life might be like," further shared the star.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent will be streaming exclusively on Lionsgate Play starting August 12, 2022.