The “Madden” actor says Christopher Nolan has yet to cast him in a role after he opted out of “Insomnia.”

Nicolas Cage turned down role in Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia

The "Madden" actor says Christopher Nolan has yet to cast him in a role after he opted out of "Insomnia."

By Sharareh Drury

May 25, 2026 9:13 p.m. ET

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Nicolas Cage; Christopher Nolan. Credit:

Jason Mendez/Getty; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

- Nicolas Cage revealed he's turned down roles in films by Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Anderson.

- "They get their feelings hurt and don't call you back," Cage said of famous directors from whom he's declined offers.

- Cage said Nolan offered him a part in 2002's *Insomnia*, which also starred Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank.**

Nicolas Cage's eclectic acting resume has made the actor uniquely distinct amongst his peers. But, according to Cage, a few famous directors steer clear of him to this day — all because he once told them "no."

In an interview with the *New York Times* ahead of his MGM+ series *Spider-Noir** *premiering, Cage explained helmers like Christopher Nolan, Woody Allen, and Paul Thomas Anderson are not taking his calls.

"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," Cage said in the interview.

"Most of them, they get their feelings hurt and don't call you back. It's happened a million times to me," he continued. "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."**

Robin Williams and Al Pacino in 'Insomnia'.

Warner Brothers/Courtesy Everett Collection

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According to Cage, Nolan offered him a role in his 2002 psychological thriller *Insomnia*, which featured Al Pacino, Robin Williams, and Hilary Swank. As for Anderson, Cage says the potential project that came his way "was a very early movie" and "it didn't work out."

While the *Longlegs* star hasn't been offered another gig by most of the aforementioned directors, Russel eventually did return with a role for Cage — playing American football coach John Madden in the biographical film *Madden*. The cast also features Christian Bale, Kathryn Hahn, John Mulaney, Sienna Miller, and Shane Gillis.**

"David did call me, and it showed a lot of class that he would call me back and invite me again, and I didn't want to say no to him again because I have great respect for his talent," Cage said. "And it was a beautiful experience. I enjoyed working with David. I enjoyed working with Christian [Bale], John Mulaney."

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See Nicolas Cage as NFL legend-turned-video game icon John Madden in film teaser

Nicolas Cage as John Madden in David O. Russel's film 'Madden'.

Amazon MGM Studios

Cage — whose acting career includes eccentric characters like Castor Tory in *Face/Off*, the passionate Ronny in *Moonstruck*,* *and his Oscar-winning performance in *Leaving Las Vegas* — admitted taking on Madden "was a big challenge."

"I don't think of myself when I think of John Madden," Cage admitted, before revealing what legendary creative helped him ease into the role.

"So I was like, OK, how can I get way out of my comfort zone? Which is what David Bowie said to me," Cage shared. "I asked him, 'How did you keep reinventing yourself?' He said, 'I just never got comfortable with anything I was doing.' That's stayed with me."

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Source: “EW Thriller”