Nicolas Cage has delivered a sharp assessment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, comparing the blockbuster franchise to professional wrestling while taking aim at its elaborate costumes and fight-heavy storytelling.
Speaking during a recent conversation at Fan Expo Dallas, the Oscar-winning actor acknowledged that his criticism came from a place of affection before offering his unfiltered verdict.
“I do say this with love,” Cage said. “When I see these 50-plus and otherwise intelligent and remarkably gifted thespians putting on these ridiculous outfits and getting ready for the fight — let’s face it, it’s all cutting to the fight — it’s hard for me not to be reminded that the MCU is becoming a well-funded and glorified WWE.”
The comments have gained traction on social media, where some users have agreed with Cage’s position while others have questioned it because of his own extensive involvement with superhero projects.
Cage’s complicated Marvel connection
Cage is not currently a member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but Marvel characters have played a significant part in several of his projects.
He recently took the title role in Sony’s Marvel series “Spider-Noir,” which was canceled after one season. Its only season consisted of eight episodes.
The series was based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man Noir and adapted for television by Oren Uziel. Set during the Great Depression, it starred Cage as Ben Reilly, a private investigator in 1930s New York who must confront his previous life as the city’s sole superhero after a deeply personal tragedy.
Cage also portrayed Ghost Rider in two films: 2007’s “Ghost Rider” and the 2012 follow-up “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.” The character is now officially set to enter the MCU through Ryan Gosling.
The MCU’s “Ghost Rider” will be directed by Shawn Levy and is scheduled for release on July 28, 2028.
Why “Spider-Noir” appealed to him
Although Cage has repeatedly entered the comic-book world, he previously explained that the superhero foundation of “Spider-Noir” was not what initially attracted him to the television series.
Instead, he was interested in its presentation as a black-and-white classic film noir, complete with elements of German expressionism. That visual approach gave him an opportunity to build his performance around actors from an earlier era.
“I wanted to try to create an essence of some of my favorite old world actors because I wanted to embody that style — Bogart, Cagney, Edward G. Robinson — and designed my performance to fit within the black-and-white format,” Cage said before the show premiered.
The actor also admitted that committing to a television production initially made him nervous. His approach involved combining the influence of those performers with the world of Spider-Man, and he was unsure how the experiment would come together across the season.
“It was scary, and it was risky,” Cage said. “I was constantly worried that I was going to get fired, because I was doing this thing of channeling old actors and colliding it with Stan Lee’s masterpiece that is ‘Spider-Man’ to create this Roy Lichtenstein pop-art sensation of sorts. I didn’t know until I finally saw the eight episodes whether it was going to work.”
That distinction helps frame Cage’s latest remarks: His participation in superhero productions has not stopped him from criticizing what he sees as the MCU’s growing focus on costumed confrontations. At the same time, his own comic-book roles have given social media users plenty to discuss as his “glorified WWE” comparison continues to circulate.
What Happens Next?
While “Spider-Noir” will not return for a second season, Ghost Rider’s next screen incarnation is already dated. The Shawn Levy-directed MCU movie involving Ryan Gosling remains on the release calendar for July 28, 2028, marking the character’s official arrival in the franchise Cage has now publicly critiqued.