Summary

• Nicolas Cage's superhero journey has had ups and downs, from failed Ghost Rider movies to the success of Spider-Man Noir in Spider-Verse.
• Cage's best live-action superhero moment was in Kick-Ass, where he played Big Daddy, a Batman-like character with a twist.
• Moving forward, Cage has the perfect opportunity to shine in the upcoming Spider-Man Noir TV show, giving him a chance at superhero redemption.

Nicolas Cage just landed the lead role in the upcoming live-action Spider-Man TV show Noir, but he already had his redemption story in a 14-year-old action comedy. Cage is an excellent actor who has shown his versatility in drama and action films. While he has starred in popular franchises like National Treasure, he is still searching for the perfect superhero role that has alluded him throughout his career. His superhero journey started with DC as he was set to play Superman in Tim Burton's Superman Lives before it was canceled in 1998.

In 2007, he switched to Marvel, playing the titular role in Ghost Rider and its 2011 sequel. While he did play the lead hero in both films, they were mostly failures, with poor reviews from critics and audiences. After several years, he returned to the Marvel universe as the voice of Spider-Man Noir in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The film was a smash hit, and Cage is now starring in a spinoff Noir series for Prime Video/MGM+. While this looks like he's finally getting his superhero redemption story, he already played a great live-action hero in 2010.

Nicolas Cage Played A Version Of Batman Who Kills People In Kick-Ass

Cage has had roles in four live-action superhero movies. He may be best known for the Ghost Rider films, but those didn't receive great critic scores. He had a minor cameo in The Flash as an alternate version of Superman, but The Flash had mixed reviews from critics and audiences and flopped at the box office. The biggest hit he's been in is Kick-Ass, a 2010 action comedy from director Matthew Vaughn. The film is a satire of the superhero genre, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as a teenager who decides to become a superhero named "Kick-Ass."

Cage plays Big Daddy, a former cop who becomes a vigilante and trains his daughter to become the foul-mouthed, violent Hit-Girl. He resembles Batman, but the main difference is he has no moral qualms with killing people, often in gory and brutal ways. However, the best part of Cage's performance is the twisted relationship with his daughter, as they share a love for violence that forges their bond. Even though it's questionable parenting, it gives the movie plenty of heart, which could be why it's the best live-action superhero project Cage has starred in.

Why Noir Presents A Greater Opportunity For Cage

Noir allows Cage to play the lead in an excellent superhero series with a character that is already popular. While Big Daddy is an excellent character, he isn't the star of the film, and he doesn't appear in Kick-Ass 2. Spider-Man Noir is the star, and since it's a series, it will give Cage plenty of time to grow into the role and give him a full arc that could last for multiple seasons.

What also works in Cage's favor is that Spider-Man Noir already has a built-in audience. He gained popularity from Spider-Verse and audiences wanted to see more of the hero, possibly in his universe. Cage doesn't have to change much to fit this character, unlike Ghost Rider, where he had to put a unique spin on the character and see if audiences liked it. With Noir, Cage can enhance his acting legacy with a superhero he's fondly remembered for.