Nicolas Cage is no stranger to pushing boundaries, both in his career and in his personal life. But his recent experience while filming his latest movie, The Surfer, has given him a new perspective on life, especially as he contemplates his future as both an actor and a father.
The Surfer: Nicolas Cage’s Close Call with Death
The 61-year-old actor, known for his intense roles and fearless commitment to his craft, had a frightening near-death experience while filming for The Surfer. Cage, who plays a businessman returning to Australia to buy his childhood beach house, had to engage in some challenging stunts, including surfing. While he’s surfed before, this particular stunt turned into a terrifying moment.
“I have surfed, but every time I’ve attempted surfing, I’ve been pounded to smithereens,” Cage told Entertainment Weekly, recounting the intense experience. He went on to explain that during one of his attempts, his instructor had given him a short board instead of the long board he had requested. “I surfed down on Sunset Beach. When I was trying to learn, my teacher gave me a short board. I said, ‘Look, I want a long board.'”
Cage’s attempt at mastering the short board led to a serious accident. “I just got pounded and literally got stuck in the rip tide, and they said they saw my board, they call it ‘tombstone,’ like that triangle top,” he recalled. “I’m climbing up the leash as I’m somersaulting, and I could have died.”
The intense situation made Cage reflect on his life, particularly now that he is a father. “Now I have a young kid, I don’t know if I want to do it anymore,” he admitted, acknowledging how close he came to not making it out of the water.
Nicolas Cage: A Career Full of Risks
Cage’s willingness to embrace danger for the sake of authenticity in his roles has always been a hallmark of his career. From his intense physical performances to his daring choices in movies, he’s never shied away from taking risks. However, as he gets older, his perspective on what he’s willing to do for his craft has shifted, especially in light of becoming a parent.
“I’ve been doing this for 45 years. In over 100 movies, I feel I’ve pretty much said what I’ve had to say with cinema,” Cage said, reflecting on his long career. “And I’d like to leave on a high note and say adios.”
The actor, who has been in the industry for decades, expressed a desire to retire from acting soon. “I think I have to do maybe three or four more movies before I can get there and then hopefully switch formats and go into some other way of expressing my acting,” he explained in a 2023 interview with Uproxx.
Nicolas Cage’s Future: Retirement and a Life of Simplicity
While Cage has enjoyed a prolific career, his desire for a simpler life is evident. “The goal is to retire, surf, drink red wine, and eat spaghetti,” Cage told Entertainment Weekly, outlining a lifestyle that contrasts sharply with the hectic and high-risk career he’s had. His dream of retiring to a more peaceful existence reflects a deeper longing for balance after years of intense work.
Despite his desire to retire, Cage has not made any final decisions on when he will step away from the big screen. “I would’ve liked to have left on a high note, like Dream Scenario,” he said, referring to a recent project he was proud of. “But I have other contracts that I have to fulfill, so we’ll see what happens.”
Cage’s next steps in his acting career will be strategic, he explained. “I am going to be very severe and very stringent on the selection process moving forward,” he said, emphasizing that he would be careful in choosing roles in the future. For now, Cage’s focus is on finding the right projects while contemplating his future post-Hollywood.