Skip to main content
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Christian Bale in The Dark Knight
Crime Movies Christian Bale promises Heat 2 will be "something great", and he came close to working with Leonardo DiCaprio before
A hooded Dr. Gideon carries Grace on his shoulder in Resident Evil Requiem.
Resident Evil Resident Evil Requiem's Leon actor was so unnerved performing next to the main villain he would "start giggling"
Glen Powell as Becket in How to Make a Killing
Comedy Movies How to Make a Killing is Glen Powell's latest mid-budget movie, and I hope he never stops making them
Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly in Spider-Noir
Superhero Shows Nicolas Cage wanted to play his 1930s superhero detective in Spider-Noir like a "spider pretending to be a person"
The Mandalorian and Boba Fett
Star Wars Movies Boba Fett star all but confirms his Star Wars bounty hunter won't show up in The Mandalorian and Grogu
Jessie Buckley as Ida/Penny in The Bride
Horror Movies The Bride's violence was "pulled back" after test screenings, but director Maggie Gyllenhaal stands by what was kept in
Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in American Psycho
Horror Movies Christian Bale says it's a "bold choice" to remake American Psycho: "Whoever wants to give it a shot, give it a pop!"
Lee Byung-hun as Man-su in No Other Choice
Thriller Movies I thought No Other Choice would finally break Park Chan-wook's streak of Oscars snubs, but it continued a sad trend
Penelope Cruz as Myrna in The Bride
Horror Movies Penelope Cruz says it was "a pleasure" to "express a lot of rage" in new horror-romance The Bride
Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly in Spider-Noir
Superhero Shows Spider-Noir's new teaser gives us best look yet at Electro and Nic Cage's webslinger beating up gangsters
Christian Bale as Frank in The Bride
Horror Movies Christian Bale on exploring the more "comedic" sides of Frankenstein's monster in new sci-fi horror The Bride
Christian Bale as Frank in The Bride
Horror Movies The Bride star "cherry-picked" his Frankenstein's monster from the bits Mary Shelley and Boris Karloff "got right"
Kylo Ren in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Star Wars Movies Steven Soderbergh says he is "very disappointed" by the decision to cancel The Hunt for Ben Solo
Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders
Fantasy Shows Cillian Murphy "categorically" denies rumors he's playing Voldemort in the HBO Harry Potter show
Harrison Ford as Dr. Paul Rhoades in Shrinking
Star Wars Movies Harrison Ford thanks George Lucas for giving him "a part in a wildly successful film" during emotional SAG awards speech
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies

Nicolas Cage was turned down for a part in The Godfather 3 by his uncle Francis Ford Coppola

News
By Emily Garbutt published 6 January 2022

It wasn't meant to be

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Nicolas Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
(Image credit: Lionsgate)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

Nicolas Cage has revealed that he asked for a role in The Godfather 3, but was turned down by his uncle, director Francis Ford Coppola.

Cage was recently interviewed as part of The Hollywood Reporter's actor roundtable, which also featured Andrew Garfield, Jonathan Majors, Peter Dinklage, and Simon Rex. When asked to name a movie they'd love to make but didn't think anyone would let them, Cage took a trip down memory lane.

"This is a very embarrassing answer to your question, OK, because it involves family," he said. "So Uncle was doing Godfather 3, and I said, 'I really think I ought to be in your movie, Uncle. I really think it’s a good idea if you would cast me. I think I could play this part.' He was going to cast Andy Garcia, and I said, 'But I just see myself more as James Caan’s son, and he’s playing Sonny’s son. He’s not playing Michael’s son. He’s Sonny’s son. I just feel a little more James Caan.' It just wasn’t going to happen. Nope, not going to happen. So that was a movie I didn’t get let in that I really wanted to be in. There."

You may like
  • Guillermo del Toro Guillermo del Toro and Francis Ford Coppola once teamed up to turn The Count of Monte Cristo into "A Gothic Western”
  • Spider-Noir perching in a church Nicolas Cage says his performance in Spider-Noir is "70 percent Bogart, and 30 percent Bugs Bunny"
  • Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly in Spider-Noir Nicolas Cage wanted to play his 1930s superhero detective in Spider-Noir like a "spider pretending to be a person"

Cage can next be seen playing a fictionalized version of himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, which hits the big screen on April 22. He's also set to play Dracula in Renfield, an upcoming modern retelling of the classic vampire tale focusing on the Count's henchman. 

In the meantime, check out our list of the other upcoming movies to get excited about this year.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Emily Garbutt
Emily Garbutt
Social Links Navigation
Entertainment Writer

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering everything film and TV-related. I help bring you all the latest news, features, and reviews, as well as helming our Big Screen Spotlight column. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism.

Read more
Guillermo del Toro
Guillermo del Toro and Francis Ford Coppola once teamed up to turn The Count of Monte Cristo into "A Gothic Western”
 
 
Spider-Noir perching in a church
Nicolas Cage says his performance in Spider-Noir is "70 percent Bogart, and 30 percent Bugs Bunny"
 
 
Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly in Spider-Noir
Nicolas Cage wanted to play his 1930s superhero detective in Spider-Noir like a "spider pretending to be a person"
 
 
Spider-Noir aiming his webshooter
Spider-Noir TV creators explain why Nicolas Cage's Spider-Man is "jaded" Ben Reilly instead of "boyish" Peter Parker
 
 
Ben Reilly (Nicolas Cage) holding The Spider's mask in Spider-Noir
Spider-Noir trailer proves everything is cooler in black and white, especially when it involves Nicolas Cage
 
 
Syndrome firing a laser blast from his finger
Minecraft star Jack Black reveals he turned down playing Syndrome in Pixar's The Incredibles, and now he regrets it
 
 
Latest in Movies
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
After the first two movies were written by Scott Cawthon, Five Nights at Freddy's 3 reportedly has new screenwriters
 
 
Mortal Kombat movie
Mortal Kombat 2 star joins in with Street Fighter movie beef after Game Awards dig because he "loves a good rivalry"
 
 
Fujino and Kyomoto eating in Look Back
Live-action adaptation of Chainsaw Man creator's Look Back will escape Japanese cinemas and come to the west
 
 
Aang, Sokka and Katara standing on a stone wall during the series Avatar: The Last Airbender
Aang director confirms the next Avatar movie has wrapped, but seems to be still fighting for a theatrical release
 
 
Princess Rosalina in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie trailer
Certified Nintendo fangirl and Rosalina actor Brie Larson says Super Mario Galaxy is one of her favorite games
 
 
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
A Nintendo Nostradamus somehow predicted Donald Glover's Yoshi casting in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie over a year ago
 
 
Latest in News
Runescape
MMO raises subscription prices less than 2 months after ditching microtransactions, causing a RuneScape fan revolt
 
 
One Piece
One Piece season 2 is a live-action adaptation to treasure as it debuts to perfect Rotten Tomatoes score
 
 
Fallout 1 power armor helmet
D&D's most annoying rule helped Fallout co-creator get big break at legendary RPG studio
 
 
A screenshot of Yoko Taro in the "Message from NieR: Automata director Yoko Taro" Square Enix video announcing Nier: Automata's Steam release.
Nier: Automata creator Yoko Taro sees it "as a form of respect" when devs "say outright that they copied" his action RPG
 
 
Marathon destroyer runner shell using shield to block explosive
Overwatch lead says using Steam player counts to dunk on Marathon is "big unemployed, maidenless behavior"
 
 
Death Stranding Norman Reedus and baby
RPG legend advises new devs to be like Hideo Kojima and create their own style – or just "have a rich daddy"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. One Piece
    1
    One Piece season 2 is a live-action adaptation to treasure as it debuts to perfect Rotten Tomatoes score
  2. 2
    Overwatch lead says using Steam player counts to dunk on multi-platform releases like Marathon is "big unemployed, maidenless behavior"
  3. 3
    Nier: Automata creator Yoko Taro sees it "as a form of respect" when devs "say outright that they copied" his action RPG, but he's not sure "how Square Enix would feel about that"
  4. 4
    D&D's most annoying rule helped Fallout co-creator Tim Cain get his big break at legendary RPG studio Interplay after he flexed on the job interview
  5. 5
    Resident Evil Requiem director acknowledges the Leon thirst and marriage debate all in one as he jokingly lets slip a mock-up of the hot unc starring in The Bachelor: "Whoops..."

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...