Nicolas Cage discusses his acclaimed new horror film Mandy, the genius of Ethan Hawke and how he once enraged Sir Ian Holm in this exclusive video interview.
Cage first talked about meeting Panos Cosmatos, the director of the indie horror classic Beyond the Black Rainbow, and how the director originally pitched him the role of Mandys cult leader A California Klaus Kinski, Cage said of the role before the actor ultimately signed on for the role of Red, the films vengeance-seeking protagonist. Cages frenzied portrayal has already been lauded on the film festival circuit ahead of Mandys release Friday.
I was affected by [Cosmatos], but we went our separate ways, Cage said. It wasnt until a year later that he called and said I think we should let Nic Cage play Red.' Cage also thanked his Trust co-star Elijah Wood for bringing him and Cosmatos together.
'Mandy' Review: Revenge, Rage-in-a-Nicolas-Cage StyleSee Nicolas Cage Seek Revenge in Bloody 'Mandy' TrailerComing of Age: Millennials' Most Earth-Shaking Sexual MomentsThurston Moore: 5 Songs That Influenced Me Early On
Cage also praised the actor Ethan Hawke and his work in Paul Schraders recent drama First Reformed; Hawke and Cage starred in the 2005 film Lord of War, and in a recent interview, Hawke said of Cage, I thinkNicolas Cage is one of the few people in the history of acting that has really changed [the form]. I mean, hes a true originalone of the greatest actors ever.
Ethan is someone I have admired for a very long time, not only because hes the compelling thespian that he is but also because hes a multiple published novelist and a great filmmaker in his own right, Cage said. For him to say that, Im very touched.
Cage also talked about the first time he met Hawke at a Lord of War cast-and-crew party and how he accidentally angered their co-star Ian Holm by referring to him as his knighted title.
In walks Sir Ian Holm, who was also in Lord of War, so here are these two American actors in South Africa with a British knight, I wanted to be very deferential and try to follow the protocol, Cage said.
So I went, Sir Ian, Im so happy to see you, Im so happy youre making the movie with us, can I get you a drink, sir? And Ian Holm said, Take it easy with the sir!'