Nicolas Cage says Christopher Nolan, Woody Allen stopped calling after he turned down projects: 'Happened a million times'

Nicolas Cage is opening up about the consequences of saying no in Hollywood. The actor, 62, has revealed that several high-profile directors, including Christopher Nolan, Woody Allen, and 2026 Academy Award winner Paul Thomas Anderson, have not offered him roles since he turned down opportunities to work with them. The comments have quickly made waves across the entertainment world, shedding light on a side of Hollywood relationships that rarely gets discussed so candidly.

According to an interview published by The New York Times on May 23, the conversation arose when Cage was asked about his upcoming film 'Madden', which will chronicle the life and career of legendary NFL coach John Madden.

What Nicolas Cage said about directors not calling him back

Cage explained that part of the appeal of the 'Madden' project was the director behind it, David O. Russell, whom he described as a rare exception to what he sees as a common pattern in the industry.

"I really didn't know who he was," Cage told the outlet about Madden. "I don't have, in my view anyway, much in common with him. David O. Russell offered me a movie a million years ago. It was a good movie, and he offered it, and I said no, and he's the only director that I ever said no to who actually came back and offered me another movie."

He went on to claim that most directors react differently. "Most get their feelings hurt and don't call you back," he said. "It's happened a million times to me. It's happened with Christopher Nolan, it's happened with Woody Allen, it's happened with Paul Thomas Anderson. They don't call me back."

Cage also claimed he was offered a role in Nolan's 2002 film 'Insomnia', which starred Robin Williams, Al Pacino, and Hilary Swank, before ultimately passing on the project.

About Nicolas Cage's upcoming film, 'Madden'

Cage will play John Madden, who passed away at the age of 85 in 2021, in Russell's upcoming film. Madden served as the Oakland Raiders head coach before going on to become one of the most recognisable voices in sports broadcasting and a pioneer behind the iconic video game franchise that bears his name. The film is scheduled to hit theatres on November 26, 2026.