Nicolas Cage’s Close Call on New Thriller Set
Just when you thought Hollywood stunts were all guaranteed insurance checks, Nicolas Cage nearly got pounded to smithereens on his new thriller’s set. The 60-year-old Oscar winner was filming an intense fight sequence for the untitled action picture when a misaligned prop sent him careening into a steel-reinforced wall, according to stunt coordinator Mark Rivers (via People Magazine). Let’s all pretend we’re shocked that a guy who once literally shouted “Not the bees!” can still surprise us with near-mortal peril.
Cage, apparently treating near-decapitation as a minor inconvenience, quipped in a crew interview with Entertainment Weekly, “I thought I was auditioning for a new extreme sport.” His dark wit may be sharper than his stunt safety protocol, because eyewitnesses say the impact echoed through the soundstage like an overenthusiastic gong. One crew member described it as if a bowling ball decided to conquer a castle wall—spoiler: the castle wall lost. That’s entertainment news for you: medieval warfare without the benefit of a moat or coherent risk assessment.
Onlookers rushed in as medical staff stabilized Cage’s neck and back, a scene Variety confirms was captured on set CCTV. He emerged from the trailer two hours later bearing only a bruised ego and a sprained wrist. Maybe next time he’ll swap heroics for knitting—fewer airborne steel rods involved, fewer near-fatal mishaps, same level of existential dread. Meanwhile, this incident has reignited calls for stricter stunt regulations in Hollywood. Ask any prop master: when you see actors flirting with flying debris, it’s rarely part of the script.
Industry insiders tell People Magazine that this is Cage’s third close shave with cinematic carnage in the past decade. Honestly, at this point his IMDB stunt department should have its own Oscar category: “Most Likely to Survive a Metal Impalement.” Even his stunt doubles are starting to file restraining orders against lumbering set pieces. At least Cage’s stunt team can claim one success: he’s still alive to grumble about it on social media.
As cameras roll on the remainder of the shoot, Cage insists he’s “fine” and ready for more stunt rehearsals. Which is either admirable dedication or the world’s most expensive midlife crisis. Crew head Sarah Liu told Entertainment Weekly she’s swapping safety vests for crash-test dummies—if only to preserve her sanity. In any case, wrap parties have never sounded so potentially hazardous.
So keep your eyes peeled when the film finally hits theaters—there’s a good chance the blooper reel could qualify as an indie horror short. Tune in next time for more questionable life choices and cinematic gymnastics. Humanity at its finest.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Variety
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
