Nicolas Cage may have left a paycheck behind when he was leaving Las Vegas. The actor, known for his role as suicidal alcoholic screenwriter Ben Sanderson in the 1995 film 'Leaving Las Vegas,' recently confirmed that he may not have been paid for his award-winning performance. Despite this revelation, Cage appeared unfazed when questioned about the matter, stating that he hadn't been dwelling on it.
The issue of unpaid wages came to light when the film's writer-director disclosed that neither he nor Cage received the $100,000 each they were owed due to the movie allegedly not turning a profit, despite its box office success. However, both Figgis and Cage expressed that the critical acclaim from 'Leaving Las Vegas' propelled their careers to new heights, leading to more significant paychecks for future projects.
Cage, who was attending the SXSW Film & TV Festival for the premiere of his latest movie 'Arcadian,' shared his passion for film and his unconventional role choices. He revealed a fondness for the horror genre, citing influences from classic horror films and surrealist art forms. While 'Arcadian' takes a more realistic approach to the genre, Cage hinted at his upcoming project 'Longlegs' being more surrealistic in nature.
In 'Arcadian,' Cage portrays a father fighting to protect his twin boys in a post-apocalyptic world teeming with dangerous creatures. The film, directed by Ben Brewer and written by Cage's longtime collaborator Mike Nilon, is set to hit theaters on April 12.
