He's one of Hollywood's favourite action heroes who's big summer blockbusters have made millions of dollars at the box office. But there's more to actor Nicolas Cage than just Face Off, Con Air and Gone In Sixty Seconds. Cage has made a career out of playing unpredictable parts and is known to go to great lengths to bring believability to his characters. The sequel to his 2004 film National Treasure, Book Of Secrets, opens in India next Friday, is once again an adventure, this time about the truth behind the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. CNN-IBN Entertainment Editor Rajeev Masand spoke to Cage in London recently about his eclectic tastes and the Hindu mythology-based comic book adaptation he might work on with Shekhar Kapur.
Rajeev Masand: You have had a lot of success in your action movies: Con Air, Gone In Sixty Seconds, Face Off. National Treasure is your first sequel. Whats the best reason then to do a sequel?
Nicolas Cage: The best reason to do a sequel would be if you could improve upon the original in some way. It depends upon the nature of the character. I think people enjoy sequels because they like a degree of certainty and they become familiar with the characters.
The best example of a sequel series to me is Sherlock Holmes. I really liked the movies and how Holmes and Dr Watson would interact.
Im hoping that with National Treasure, my character could be this historical, archaeological version of a modern Sherlock Holmes on treasure hunts. And they are positive movies, they dont promote violence or any kind of ill will. I think they are movies you can take the whole family to and have the kids look in to history books and thats always a good thing.
Rajeev Masand: What happens with actors everywhere really is that when your action films begin to do well, the studios and everyone wants you to do just that because you can make much more money making action films. Did you find it hard to say 'No, I won an Oscar doing a dramatic role and I want to continue doing that.'
Nicolas Cage: No, it wasn't hard for me. I have very eclectic tastes and I have to be honest to those tastes. I want to do movies that will entertain you, take you on a ride and will hopefully get your mind of your troubles at home or elsewhere. I am also interested in doing movies that will make you think more about difficulties in life and the tragedy and dramatic side of life, to not turn your eye away from the inevitable. We all go through loss.
Rajeev Masand: You turned director with a fairly unpredictable film, Sonny. It was not your usual cheerful, happy film, it was a rather disturbing character drama. Are we going to see you directing more films?
Nicolas Cage: I hope so. I was happy with Sonny and I felt blessed working with a great cast and a very unusual script and I'm glad you notice that. It is an aspect of my work that I want to guard ferociously and I want to make sure when I direct a movie, it's totally pure and honest.
Rajeev Masand: Are you familiar with Indian cinema at all?
Nicolas Cage: I'm not although I know it's very popular right now..
Rajeev Masand: Aren't you committed to doing an Virgin Comics adaptation of a character called Sadhu?
Nicolas Cage: Sadhu, as you know is a Hindu, deeply religious story. Shekhar Kapoor was talking to me about it along with Deepak Chopra. This is still in discussion and has not been confirmed yet until the script is in the right place and it's ready to go which I can't say is the case at this time.
Rajeev Masand: Are you prepared for the comparisons between National Treasure and the Indiana Jones movies?
Nicolas Cage: I have heard some of the comparisons and I have to say they are pretty different. Harrison's movies are more to do with the fantasy and the supernatural while National Treasure has more to do with historically accurate clues that you can look up in your history books.
Rajeev Masand: Finally, where did you keep the Oscar?
Nicolas Cage: I have a room where I watch movies and it's my movie-viewing room where I do my research and what not, so it's in there.
Rajeev Masand: Best of luck and thank you for talking to us.
