Nicolas Cage has stated he will not allow artificial intelligence to be used in his projects and has cited this stance as a reason he will likely not work with Amazon again. The actor revealed his position during a panel at New York Comic Con, explaining his refusal to sign waivers allowing AI integration.
"Amazon is a very AI friendly company to the tune of 50 billion dollars invested to OpenAI," Cage said. "I am not an AI friendly actor. I didn’t sign the waiver to let them use AI on Spider-Noir. I’m probably not going to be working with that studio again. But that’s OK."
Amazon recently canceled Spider-Noir, a series where Cage portrayed a gumshoe version of Ben Reilly, despite positive reviews. While the extent to which Cage's refusal to allow AI played a role in the cancellation is unconfirmed, the series' finished aesthetic is noted as complementing its private eye theme.
Cage is still set to continue voicing Ben Reilly in Sony's animated Spider-Verse films, where the character first appeared. The actor also expressed a growing interest in collaborating with younger directors who, he believes, are more resistant to generative AI technology. He specifically mentioned Backrooms director Kane Parsons as someone he hopes to work with, noting Parsons' vocal criticism of AI.
The actor's firm stance against AI has been met with praise online. This discussion has also led to the resurfacing of rumors about Cage's fondness for Nintendo 64-era Bomberman games, now reportedly backed by photographic evidence, suggesting a broader appreciation for certain gaming titles.