Nicolas Cage Fans Cry Out For Renewed Support After Flash Debacle as ‘Aquaman 2’ Becomes Highest Grossing DCEU Film of 2023
Nicolas Cage is regarded as one of the most versatile actors in the industry who over the years has gained a bit of a cult following. The actor is without a doubt one of the most influential people in the industry and is admired by fans across the world.
Cage, who describes his acting as Nouveau Shamanic, almost starred as Superman in 2015’s axed project Superman Lives. Filmmaker Tim Burton was all set to direct the movie but Warner Bros. had to pull the plug from the project as concerns related to the quality of the script and the overall budget of the movie started to loom. However, Nicolas Cage’s Superman made a brief cameo in The Flash but fans were still disappointed. Let’s find out more.
Nicolas Cage’s Superman cameo couldn’t save Ezra Miller’s The Flash
Ezra Miller starrer The Flash, directed by Andy Muschietti, created a lot of buzz ahead of its release in June 2023. The movie was the 13th installment in the DCEU in which Barry, played by Miller, travels back in time to prevent the death of his mother. Barry’s acts result in him being stranded in an alternate past.
The executives believed that The Flash was going to be one of the biggest blockbusters for the studio and it was marketed with the same belief. Ezra Miller was not quite a part of the promotion of the movie due to legal troubles despite which the makers believed that it would be able to garner the attention they expected. However, the movie turned out to be the biggest disappointment for Warner Bros. and DC Studios.
The Flash had passed through various directors until it was Andy Muschietti who took over direction. It was publicized as a bridge between characters from DC Universe and their timeline, which ignited the interest of the audience. Fans were seemingly looking forward to Muschietti’s spin on the character alongside the DC characters in the movie.
Ezra Miller as The FlashThe makers used Michael Keaton’s Batman to hype the movie knowing that the ardent fans of the character would be willing to see the actor once again in the cape. The trailer, which was showcased during Super Bowl LVII, became one of the most engaging ones on social media at the time.
The Flash witnessed the return of Keaton with Ben Affleck and George Clooney appearing in an unaccredited scene of the movie. The audience was surprised to see Nicolas Cage as the alternate version of Superman in The Flash who had filmed his scenes through volumetric capture and was de-aged in the movie. Even though some of the biggest stars appeared in The Flash, it tanked at the box office.
Nicolas Cage during an interview with USA Today talked about his brief cameo and said,
“Well, I’m glad I didn’t blink. For me, it was the feeling of being actualized. Even that look for that particular character, finally seeing it on-screen, was satisfying.”
Nicolas Cage added that his cameo was brief and quick. Fans, however, believe that Cage’s movie should have been given a chance because the actor understands the character very well. The resurfaced video clip of the actor talking about his character has caught the attention of the public once again, who still wish to see the actor play a superhero on-screen.
Aquaman 2 became a successful movie for DC Studios in 2023
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom starring Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson has turned out to be one of the biggest surprises for DC Studios in 2023 as the movie becomes the only successful movie for 2023. The movie directed by James Wan has grossed over $396.2 million globally and will soon be able to cross the $400 million mark, according to Variety.
The movie, which was caught up in the controversy due to the lead actress’ notes, had minimal marketing especially because of the WGA & GAG-AFTRA strikes. At the time, no actor or writer was ‘allowed’ to promote their work hence Jason Momoa and the entire cast were forced to not talk about their project.
Also read: Years After Rejecting Dave Bautista’s MCU Role, Jason Momoa is Excited to Work With the GOTG Star
It seemed at the time that there was no hope for the 2018 Aquaman’s sequel but Aquaman 2 has managed to even surpass the record of Black Adam. It seems like even with bare minimum marketing, Jason Momoa’s movie managed to grab the audience’s attention and make the movie a success despite mixed reviews from the critics.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will premiere on digital platforms soon whereas The Flash is available for VOD.
