Nicolas Cage: MCU is becoming a 'well-funded, glorified WWE'
Synopsis
Nicolas Cage didn't mince words at Fan Expo Dallas — comparing today's MCU to a 'well-funded, glorified WWE' and urging Marvel to get back to the character-driven storytelling that made its early films special. Coming from an actor who has played both Ghost Rider and Spider-Noir, the critique carries unusual insider weight.
Key Takeaways
Nicolas Cage , 62 , criticised the MCU at Fan Expo Dallas , calling it a 'well-funded and glorified WWE' .
He praised the MCU's early output for weaving together character stories and backstories effectively.
Cage starred in Marvel's 'Spider-Noir' series as detective Ben Reilly , set in 1930s New York .
He also played Ghost Rider in the 2007 film and its 2012 sequel 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance' .
Cage urged Marvel to return to mystery and detective storytelling rather than fight-sequence-driven narratives.
Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage has delivered a pointed critique of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), arguing that the franchise has drifted away from storytelling and become excessively focused on action sequences. The 62-year-old actor made the remarks at Fan Expo Dallas, drawing on his own experience as a Marvel performer.
What Cage Said
Speaking candidly at the event, Cage said the MCU's early output was genuinely impressive. 'It started out, in my view, terrific. Some of the early stories were marvellous. The way that they wove all the threads together and told the different character stories and backstories,' he said.
He then turned to his current concerns, offering a colourful comparison. 'Lately, I do say this with love, 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,' Cage stated.
Cage's Own MCU Work
Cage is no outsider to the Marvel universe. He played the supernatural superhero Ghost Rider in the 2007 film of the same name and its 2012 sequel 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance'. More recently, he starred in the Marvel series 'Spider-Noir', portraying the titular character Ben Reilly — a down-on-his-luck private investigator operating in 1930s New York.
Why Spider-Noir Appealed to Him
Cage pointed to 'Spider-Noir' as the kind of Marvel storytelling he believes the franchise should return to. 'One of the things I liked about Spider-Noir was it wasn't cut into the fight. It was a detective story. There was a mystery there. And I would like to see it (MCU) get back to telling the stories and not just cutting to the wrestling match,' he said.
The series, rooted in the noir detective genre rather than conventional superhero spectacle, represents precisely the narrative-first approach Cage is urging Marvel's creative teams to prioritise.
Broader Context
Cage's remarks arrive at a moment when audience fatigue with superhero content has become a recurring theme in Hollywood discourse. Box-office underperformance of several recent MCU titles and declining critical reception have already prompted internal discussions at Marvel Studios about creative recalibration. Cage's critique, notably offered 'with love' rather than hostility, adds a prominent insider voice to that conversation. His comments are likely to resonate with a segment of long-time Marvel fans who feel the franchise's character-driven origins have been subordinated to spectacle. Whether Marvel's current leadership heeds such calls remains to be seen.
Point of View
But it tracks a pattern critics have noted for years: as the MCU scaled up, character interiority got traded for choreography. What makes his critique noteworthy is its source — he isn't an outsider lobbing grenades, but an actor who just finished a Marvel project. His praise for 'Spider-Noir's' detective format also implicitly challenges Marvel to diversify genre, not just cast. The franchise's recent box-office struggles suggest audiences may be reaching the same conclusion independently.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Nicolas Cage say about the MCU?
Nicolas Cage said the MCU has lost its early storytelling quality and is now too focused on action, comparing it to a 'well-funded and glorified WWE'. He made the remarks at Fan Expo Dallas, while also expressing that his criticism comes 'with love'.
What Marvel projects has Nicolas Cage been part of?
Nicolas Cage played Ghost Rider in the 2007 film and its 2012 sequel 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance'. He also recently starred in the Marvel series 'Spider-Noir', playing detective Ben Reilly in a 1930s New York setting.
Why did Cage praise 'Spider-Noir' specifically?
Cage praised 'Spider-Noir' because it was structured as a detective mystery rather than an action spectacle, representing the kind of character-driven, story-first approach he believes the broader MCU should return to.
Is the MCU really facing an audience fatigue problem?
Several recent MCU films have underperformed at the box office and received mixed critical reviews, prompting reported internal discussions at Marvel Studios about creative direction. Cage's comments add a prominent voice to a wider conversation already underway in Hollywood.
Where did Nicolas Cage make these remarks?
Cage made the remarks at Fan Expo Dallas, a pop-culture convention, where he discussed his Marvel experience and his views on the franchise's creative direction.
