Nicolas Cage turned down the role of Shrek for this surprising reason

When you're a huge actor like Nicolas Cage, you have to think about your image. Indeed if an actor takes certain roles it can either boost or damage their image. Indeed Cage has had over a hundred roles at 59 years old.

An actor of animated films

Nicolas Cage, a key actor of his generation, has played a number of major roles in films such as Snake Eyes. But he has also lent his voice to several animated features, including Spider-Man: New Generation in which he plays the black Spider-Man.

Having become famous for starring in many action films, Francis Ford Coppola's nephew has also played softer roles, such as DreamWorks' Caveman, Grug in 2013 and 2020, in The Croods, alongside Emma Stone and Ryan Reynolds.

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Nicolas Cage turned down the role of Shrek

But before playing the protective father, the animation company DreamWorks had offered him another cult role, which he unfortunately declined. Nicolas Cage could have been... Shrek.

Nicolas confided, a few years ago;

We talked about Shrek, and I just didn't want to look like an ogre.

He told Today in 2013:

When you're drawn, in a way it says more about how children are going to see you than anything else, and I so care about that.

He explained that the news had tried to claim it was due to 'vanity' but he denied this claim:

The news said it was because of vanity. I think that's a bit strong. But the truth is, I'm not afraid to be ugly in a movie....

This article was translated from Gentside FR.

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Sources used:

Today: 'Nicolas Cage: No regrets on turning down 'Shrek'