Nicolas Cage, to say the least, is a contentious actor. It’s been a long-standing debate of whether he’s a good actor, or a terrible one. Much like anything, the truth probably falls somewhere in the middle. At the very least, he’s an incredibly interesting actor that takes unhinged characters into reality unlike anyone else in the entire industry. He’s turned down famous roles in The Matrix and Lord of the Rings, and while audiences may have dodged a bullet with those two - it does lead to the question of what other roles could Cage have played?

He’s put together quite the track record for performances, but this list looks at the roles that he could have played along the way. Not to say he would have played these roles better than the original actors, but that he, if given the chance, could have knocked them out of the park, too.

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Willy Wonka - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

     Warner Bros. Pictures

This role lends itself perfectly to an idiosyncratic actor. From Gene Wilder, to Johnny Depp, and now Timothee Chalamet. The previous two turned the eccentricity to the top - and clearly made the role their own. Each of these, and assumedly Chalamet’s turn at the character, are wholly unique. This is why this particular role seems perfectly suited for Cage. It’s hard to say exactly what he’d do with the character, but it’s obvious he would have come up with something brand-new, and deserving of the name.

This is one of the few roles on this list that could actually still happen. This character seemingly is going to keep getting rebooted. Why not give Cage a chance at it down the road.

Howard Ratner - Uncut Gems (2019)

     A24

Adam Sandler, like Nic Cage, has had a contentious career with more flops than successes. At least, critically speaking. However, he’s proven that when he’s good, he’s GOOD. Uncut Gems opened up a lot of people’s eyes for Sandler, and it could do the same for Cage. The crazy, chaotic nature of the film slowly dipping into chaos is, on paper, perfect for him.

Howard Ratner is a grimy, self-focused character that repeatedly gets escalated as the movie progresses. This is something that Cage has a history of playing in the past - and he would have fit into the aesthetic of the movie perfectly. Sandler’s performance garnered great critical acclaim - even getting Oscar buzz that year. The material was great for Sandler, and it would have been great for Cage too.

J. Jonah Jameson - Spider-Man (2002)

     Sony Pictures Releasing

There is no doubt that J.K. Simmons is the absolute perfect J. Jonah Jameson. It’s absolutely perfect casting. However, this list is under the assumption that the role was open at one point. This is exactly the type of character that allows Cage to be himself and let go. Jameson is bombastic, self-serious, and hilarious. All of these traits are things that Cage easily could have pulled off. Critics and fans weren’t kind to Cage when Ghost Rider came out, but he would go on to redeem himself in Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. This role would have been another way for him to enter that universe and shake off the reputation his previous attempts had got him.

He wouldn’t have been the best J. Jonah Jameson, but he would have been great in the role regardless.

Riggan Thomson - Birdman (2014)

     Fox Searchlight Pictures

This role was written for Michael Keaton as a response to his own personal career. Riggan is meant to be Keaton - or at least a version of him that exists somewhere. All of that weight and nuance is in the back of everyone’s minds as they watch this incredible performance. Clearly, Keaton is right for the role.

However, Cage has also proven that he’s not shy about playing a version of himself, with The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent being a great success. The nuance of Keaton’s character isn’t quite there - but the groundwork for something similar is very obvious. The role allows him to tap into that great dramatic work he’s shown in movies like Pig and Adaptation, while also allowing for the more bombastic types of performances that he may be more famous for.

Grandmaster - Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

     Walt Disney Studios

The idea of an intergalactic god-like being who’s more interested in partying and having fun than doing any actual good for the universe seems like it was written for Cage. Goldblum played the role perfectly, and brought his personality into every aspect of the character. There’s no doubt that Cage would play the character pretty differently, but his style and sense of humor seems absolutely perfect for Taika Waititi’s direction. It’s the perfect mix of silly and self-serious.

Jeff Goldblum absolutely kills it here, and plays it in a way Cage could not. There’s no doubt that the character would have been completely different, but after Ghost Rider, Cage needs another shot at a live-action Marvel movie. This would have been the perfect opportunity.

Ray Peterson - The ‘Burbs (1989)

     Universal Pictures

The ‘Burbs is an underrated comedy from 1989, starring Tom Hanks as Ray Peterson. Ray, bored out of his mind during a vacation from work, starts to suspect his new neighbors are up to nefarious deeds. Whether it’s the boredom, or the growing curiosity, Ray goes down a dark path in trying to figure out what they’re up to. The movie was right up Cage’s alley at the time, and he would have been pretty incredible casting. Hanks does a great job, but there’s a monologue he gives near the end of the film. It’s a total explosion of emotion and anger as the character starts to realize his mistakes. Cage would have knocked this monologue out of the park, and that pseudo-crazy character would have fit right in with the rest of the Cage catalog.