15 Roles That Were Almost Played by Nicolas Cage
![15 Roles That Were Almost Played by Nicolas Cage](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/1/6/840116_320x180.jpg)
Nic Caaaaaaaaaaaaage. People say that watching all of his films is like staring into the heart of the sun, but what about all the possible constellations we could’ve seen if Nic Cage didn’t turn down roles to the level that everyone thinks he doesn’t. Nic Cage’s film career is nothing if not quintessentially Nic Cage — aside from when he was like 19 and in a sitcom that went nowhere. But other than that blip, it’s been good. Cage’s career has taken him all over the film spectrum, but still there are dark corners even he didn’t venture into the swamps of. Some of these films are fantastic and others are catastrophic failures, but all would be made radically different by introducing the most famous Coppola of all time, Nicolas Cage.
Here are roles that could’ve been reimagined to a degree none but Cage himself can fathom. Films that could’ve been like a lightning bolt streaking in the night, a shape indefinable and terrible.
Aragorn in 'The Lord of the Rings'
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage ARAGORN The Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson wanted Nicolas Cage as Aragorn, but Cage couldn't see himself spending three years away from home, so he had to turn it down. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/1/840131.jpg)
Source: Newsweek
Shrek
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage SHREK Nic Cage turned down the role because he thought Shrek was just too ugly. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/6/840126.jpg)
Source: Daily Mail
Neo in 'The Matrix'
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage NEO Nicolas Cage was almost Neo. Woah. (Не didn't want to travel, though.) CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/3/840123.jpg)
Source: Looper
John Bender in 'The Breakfast Club'
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage BENDER The Breakfast Club Nicolas Cage was considered for John Bender, which would've changed all media, forever. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/0/840120.jpg)
Source: TheThings
The Green Goblin in 'Spider-Man'
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage GREEN GOBLIN Spider-Man Before Willem Dafoe took over the Goblin role, Nic Cage was up to be Spidey's masked enemy. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/5/840125.jpg)
Source: Entertainment Weekly
'Superman Lives'
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage SUPERMAN Superman Lives Kal-El - the name of Nic Cage's son and his most infamous unseen role. Tim Burton's movie fell apart before we could get Cage's wildest role yet. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/3/840133.jpg)
The Scarecrow
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage SCARECROW Cage was Scarecrow for the sequel to the Clooney Batflick, but everything got rebooted and we got Cillian Murphy instead. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/9/840129.jpg)
Source: Den of Geek
Joe Exotic
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage JOE EXOTIC A role that seems to be someone pretending to be a Nicolas Cage character, Amazon dropped the drama, though a similar Joe vs. Carole series was greenlit. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/8/840128.jpg)
Source: Variety
The Green Hornet
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage THE GREEN HORNET Cage was almost the Green Hornet in an off-kilter take that eventually became Seth Rogen's. Не got fired cuz he wanted to use a Caribbean accent. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/2/840122.jpg)
Sources: ScreenCrush, Film News
'The Wedding Crashers'
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage The Wedding Crashers Will Ferrell's brief cameo is memorable-but it might have been even more memorable with Nic Cage instead. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/2/840132.jpg)
Source: /Film
Max Schreck in 'Shadow of the Vampire'
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage MAX SCHRECK Shadow of the Vampire Nic Cage was up for the role of Shreck, but gave it up after Willem Dafoe expressed interest. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/0/840130.jpg)
'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage STAL Fast Times at Ridgemont High Cage almost had a larger role, but he wasn't even 18 and couldn't work the hours, so was given a bit role instead. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/1/840121.jpg)
Doctor Doom in 'Fantastic Four'
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage Fantastic Four DOCTOR DOOM Back in the halcyon days of the early 2000s, Nicolas Cage was cast as ultimate villain Doctor Doom-burned face, magic user, dictator. Is there a better role for Cage? CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/1/9/840119.jpg)
Source: BroBible
Sweet Tooth in 'Twisted Metal'
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage Twisted Metal SWEET TOOTH The clown villain of Twisted Metal + Nic Cage= Cinematic Gold. But the games stopped selling well, so the film was canceled. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/7/840127.jpg)
Source: Screen Rant
'Dumb and Dumber'
![Roles Almost Played by Nicolas Cage Dumb and Dumber Nic Cage was almost cast as Dumb, opposite Gary Oldman's Dumber. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/2/4/840124.jpg)
Source: Vulture