Nicolas Cage enjoys lunch with girlfriend Erika Koike and his new puppy on a break from filming in Puerto Rico... after announcing he will quit acting soon
He announced yesterday that he's winding down his acting career, to focus instead on directing and producing.
But that hasn't stopped Nicolas Cage from putting maximum effort into his latest project, Primal, which is currently shooting in Puerto Rico.
Everyone needs a break, however, and the star, 54, was seen grabbing lunch at Via Appia in el Condado, San Juan with his pet pooch and his girlfriend Erika Koike.
Out to lunch: Nicolas Cage enjoys lunch with girlfriend Erika Koike and his new puppy on a break from filming in Puerto Rico... after announcing he will quit acting soon
Nicolas wore a white T-shirt and jeans and a cowboy-style hat to shield him from the hot Caribbean sun.
He was flanked by security who helped him to make a swift exit from the eatery.
Although his puppy had a carrier, it was being held by Erika, who doted on the pooch as she strutted along after the Hollywood star.
Erika - who is thought to be a make-up artist - kept it casual in a baggy white top, skinny jeans and flip flops.
Out for lunch: The star, 54, was seen grabbing lunch at Via Appia in el Condado, San Juan with his pet pooch and his girlfriend Erika Koike
Cover up: Nicolas wore a white T-shirt and jeans and a cowboy-style hat to shield him from the hot Caribbean sun
Puppy love: Although his puppy had a carrier, it was being held by Erika, who doted on the pooch as she strutted along after the Hollywood star
She kept a low profile with a large taupe sun hat, leaving her raven locks to fall loosely around her shoulders, adding large sunglasses to the ensemble.
Nicolas - who was soon back to work on set of the movie, which is slated for release later in the year and sees him play a big-game hunter who gets trapped on shipping freighter with a bunch of exotic and deadly animals on the loose - said on Thursday that he'll only continue acting for 'three or four more years'.
According to The Blast, He said: 'In terms of producing and directing, yes, I'm getting back in production. My company, Saturn Films, is involved in all the movies I'm doing now.
Protection: They were flanked by security who helped him to make a swift exit from the eatery
Change: Nicolas says he'll only continue acting for 'three or four more years,' as he wants to make a permanent move to behind the scenes
Chic: Erika - who is thought to be a make-up artist - kept it casual in a baggy white top, skinny jeans and flip flops
'Directing is something I'd look forward to down the road, because right now I'm primarily a film performer,' the actor, who earned an Oscar in 1996 for his role as tragic alcoholic Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas, went on.
'I'm going to continue doing that for three or four more years and then I'd like to focus more on directing.'
The Con Air star said his decision to step away from a life in front of the camera comes after he revealed he can be 'self-destructive' whenever he isn't working.
'I have multiple reasons for wanting to work,' Nicolas said. 'One of them is, to be blatantly honest, I can be a little self-destructive if I'm not focused on my job.'
Defining moment: Cage earned an Oscar in 1996 for his role as tragic alcoholic Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas
The Face/Off actor said he likes 'the structure of work' and the 'routine' and 'structure' that comes along with it.
'It's the difference between maybe having one bottle of wine versus two bottles of wine.'
He said that he's accepted film roles in the past in order to help 'pay the bills' as opposed to creative reasons.
'I have had to deal with mistakes of the past and I have had to dig myself up and out of a rabbit hole financially, but had to find movies that work for me in terms of performance but also like anybody else pay the bills,' he said. 'It is a job after all.'
Action hero: Cage appeared in 1996's The Rock with Sean Connery and Ed Harris
Although he is set to move behind the camera, Nicolas said his love for film hasn't faded, as he still enjoys making movies.
'I enjoy performing. I like the power of film and performance and I like practicing. It's kept me in touch with my craft and I feel I'm better now than I have ever been.
'I've got my emotions at my fingertips and I've got my process down.'
Primal co-stars Famke Janssen and Michael Imperioli.
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