Nicolas Cage compares Marvel films to glorified WWE after Spider-Noir cancellation

Hollywood star Nicolas Cage has hit out at the Marvel Cinematic Universe, comparing the multi-billion dollar franchise to a well-funded and glorified version of professional wrestling. The 62-year-old actor shared his sharp views during an appearance at Fan Expo Dallas, coming just days after Sony cancelled his own superhero series, Spider-Noir, after an eight-episode first season.

Fan Expo Dallas

Cage praised the early days of the franchise for its character-driven storytelling and the way it connected different backstories. However, he argued that the films now rely too heavily on massive action and battle sequences. The Oscar-winning actor said it is hard not to think of wrestling when he watches intelligent, gifted actors over the age of 50 wearing ridiculous outfits and getting ready for fight scenes.

Box Office History

The MCU launched in 2008 with Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, and later brought characters like Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye together in the 2012 hit The Avengers. The franchise has since crossed 34 billion dollars at the global box office across its many films and TV shows, though it has faced criticism for film quality since Avengers: Endgame in 2019.

Context

While Nicolas Cage is not part of the core MCU, he previously played Johnny Blaze in the films Ghost Rider in 2007 and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance in 2012. The Ghost Rider character is now set to return under Marvel Studios in a new film starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy, scheduled for release in July 2028.