Summary
- Nicolas Cage grew up watching Star Trek in the 1970s and found wisdom in the early television shows.
- He prefers Star Trek over Star Wars because of the spiritual experience it provides and the wisdom it offers.
- Cage's preference for Star Trek sparked speculation about whether he would appear in the next Star Trek movie.
Academy Award-winner Nicolas Cage explains why he prefers Star Trek to Star Wars. Cage is part of the generation that grew up watching Star Trek: The Original Series in syndication in the 1970s. By 1977, the blockbuster success of Star Wars led Paramount Studios to turn its planned sequel series, Star Trek: Phase II, into a full-blown movie adventure, Star Trek:
The Motion Picture. Star Trek and Star Wars have both become pop culture cornerstones, with multiple movies and TV series spanning generations of stories and iconic characters.
Screen Rant spoke to Nicolas Cage at the 51st annual Saturn Awards red carpet, where he won the Best Supporting Film Actor trophy for his role as Dracula in Renfield. A year ago, Cage said he'd rather be in Star Trek than Star Wars, and his remarks sparked speculation about whether Cage would appear in the next Star Trek movie. When asked about his preference for Star Trek over Star Wars, the Oscar winner had this to say:
I created a divide [between Star Wars and Star Trek] that didn’t really exist! There are people that are devout followers of both; it’s a spiritual experience. I grew up watching Trek, and I found a lot of wisdom in those early television shows. That’s why I lean towards that.
Will Nicolas Cage Appear In Star Trek 4
Cage reveals there have been conversations, but nothing more
At the Saturn Awards, Nicolas Cage told Screen Rant that he had "a couple of phone calls" (presumably with J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot production company) after news broke that he was a Star Trek fan, but he hasn't seen a script for a Star Trek movie.
Star Trek 4 has been mired in development hell at Paramount for years, although recent news that a Star Trek origin movie is being developed by director Toby Haynes also noted that Star Trek 4 is still in the works as "the final chapter" of the USS Enterprise crew led by Chris Pine.
Nicolas Cage definitely seems willing to consider taking a role in Star Trek 4 if it was a part that excited him, and if he could be on the Starship Enterprise. Cage as the next Star Trek movie villain is an enticing prospect, as is the idea of Nic teaming up with Captain Kirk (Chris Pine), Mr. Spock (Zachary Quinto), and the Enterprise crew. Many acclaimed actors have taken on roles in Star Trek, but as an Academy Award winner and the star of such films as Leaving Las Vegas, Face/Off, Con Air, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Nicolas Cage would be a true Star Trek casting coup.
