Nicolas Cage calls newer Marvel films a well-funded WWE
Nicolas Cage has called Marvel's newer films a "well-funded and glorified WWE".
He made the remark during a Q&A at Fan Expo Dallas, in comments reported by The Hollywood Reporter on 1 October 2026. The Marvel Cinematic Universe, the linked series of Marvel superhero films, was his target. WWE, the professional wrestling organisation, was his comparison.
Cage said the early Marvel stories were terrific and marvellous. Those films, he said, wove threads together to tell different character stories and backstories. That work gave each hero a history before the action started.
He wants that focus back. He said he would like to see Marvel get back to telling stories and not just cutting to the wrestling match. Variety also reported a sharper aside in the same discussion, about people aged 50-plus wearing ridiculous outfits.
Cage speaks from outside the club. He has never appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He did play Johnny Blaze, or Ghost Rider, in 2007's Ghost Rider and 2012's Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, both made before that character entered Marvel's current screen universe.
He pointed to his own recent work as the contrast. He said one thing he liked about Spider-Noir was that it played as a detective story with a mystery. It was not cut straight into the fight, he said.
Cage stars in Spider-Noir. Prime Video has decided not to proceed with a second season of the show, Deadline reported on 6 September.
What makes this stand out is the split in his message. Praise for the build-up. Frustration with the pay-off. For fans, this means less talk about costumes and more about plot: mystery first, match second.
