Nicolas Cage recently spoke with People at the Spider-Noir premiere in New York City. He discussed whether he prefers playing heroes or villains, stating that both roles are important parts of cinema.
He also revealed a conversation with director Sam Raimi about possibly playing the “Green Goblin” in early 2000s Spider-Man films. However, Cage opted for the role of an adaptation in Adaptation instead.
Cage was later nominated and won an Oscar for Leaving Las Vegas. He has played many villain roles over the years, including Marvel’s Ghost Rider, Longlegs, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.
In Spider-Noir, Cage plays Ben Reilly, a private investigator with spider-like abilities in 1930s New York. He aimed to blend elements from James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, and Stan Lee’s masterpiece, Spider-Man, into his character.