Home · Entertainment · Oct 10 archive

Nicolas Cage Says He’s ‘Probably Not’ Working With Amazon Again After Refusing to Sign AI Waiver for ‘Spider-Noir,’ Teases Joining ‘True Detective’

4:17 PM ETConfirmed

Entertainment Desk

In Short: During the panel, Cage also revealed that he refused to sign an AI waiver for Amazon's 'Spider-Noir,' leading him to say he's 'probably not' working with Amazon again.

At New York Comic-Con on Saturday, Nicolas Cage announced that he will likely join HBO's True Detective for a new season.

Cage's announcement came as a surprise, though rumors of his involvement had been circulating since last August.

Cage's comments about Amazon came after the company reportedly asked him to sign a waiver that would allow the use of his likeness, voice, and style for AI-generated content.

The actor noted that Amazon has invested $50 billion in OpenAI, making the company 'very AI-friendly.'

'Spider-Noir,' a superhero series based on Marvel Comics' Spider-Man Noir, was canceled by Amazon's Prime Video after just one season.

Cage expressed disappointment with the cancellation, noting that the show had a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score and was nominated for 11 Emmy Awards.

Despite the cancellation, Cage remains optimistic about his future in television.

Cage's comments reflect a broader industry debate about the use of AI in content creation and the ethical implications for actors and creatives.

The actor's outspoken stance against AI waivers has garnered attention and support from other creatives.

Cage's involvement in True Detective is expected to bring a unique perspective to the series, which has been known for its diverse cast of characters and complex narratives.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• “That’s okay that I’m the first to announce that, right?” Cage asked, with a him-standard level of not really giving a shit, from the stage at New York Comic-Con on Saturday.
• Speaking on a panel on the Empire Stage at New York Comic Con, he said he refused to sign a waiver that would have allowed AI to be used on ‘Spider-Noir’, and that he will probably not work with Amazon again as a result.
• Nicolas Cage says he’s “probably not” working with Amazon again after refusing to sign an AI waiver for #SpiderNoir: “Amazon is a very AI-friendly company, to the tune of $50 billion invested in OpenAI,” Cage said at #NYCC.
• “I got to get with these young directors who are Gen Z, and they’re going at it their own way, whether it’s through the YouTube culture or whatever it is,” Cage said.
• “Because you can only do so many movies back to back to act, and necessity is the mother of invention, you can connect those dots too. What do I mean by necessity. Feed the family, and don’t do too many movies back to back to back. So I think I’m probably going to do another season of television,” he told the crowd.
• “Spider-Noir” was canceled by Amazon’s Prime Video last month, mere days before it scooped up 11 Emmy Award nominations.

What's still developing

• Although Nicolas Cage’s first brush with starring in a regular TV show didn’t go amazingly —our own review of his first such effort, Prime Video superhero series Spider-Noir, noted that Cage struggled to fit himself into the bounds of the small screen, and the Amazon-owned streamer killed the show off after a single season.
• (Back in May, though, he told Variety that “nothing is concrete.”) But while HBO hasn’t commented on the announcement, the seemingly off-the-cuff reveal at NYCC seemed to confirm that Cage is, in fact, doing the show.
• But that hasn’t diminished Cage’s newfound love of television, either, as the actor appeared to somewhat spontaneously announce that he’s going to go ahead and make a new season of HBO’s True Detective.
• Speaking during a spotlight panel at New York Comic Con on Saturday, Cage said he doesn't expect to be invited back for more Prime Video projects after refusing to sign Amazon's AI waiver for Spider-Noir.
• But Amazon, which doesn’t typically seem shy about spending money (we’re looking at you, Rings of Power budget), cited budgetary reasons for canceling the show just as it was finding its feet.
• Reuters originally reported that Amazon has built an “AI Studio,” led by executive Albert Cheng and focused primarily on streamlining production to cut costs, from pre-production planning to editing in post-production.
• Now Cage is telling fans to connect the dots.
• He says part of the problem is “how can you become relevant as things are moving so fast?” and he’s still looking for an answer to that question.
• Actor Nicolas Cage says he wants to work with more Gen Z directors and is unlikely to return to Amazon following his time on “Spider-Noir” earlier this year.
• Every other “creative” is signing away their likeness, their ideas, their soul, to ensure they’re still “in the race.” But no one became successful by following a trend, or taking work from the past and regurgitating it, and slapping on the label “ethical ai.” I would love to see more actors and creatives like Nic speak out against this, in an honesty way.
• This statement presents a new angle to the cancellation of the franchise, which was announced almost a month before Cage’s interview.
• Pedro Pascal was astonished to work alongside Nicolas Cage in 'The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent'.

Sources

• A.V. Clublink
• Comic Basicslink
• Comic Book Resourceslink
• ComicBook.comlink
• Cosmic Book Newslink
• Dark Horizonslink
• Deadlinelink
• Den of Geeklink
• FandomWirelink
• Female Firstlink
• IGNlink
• The Hollywood Reporterlink
• TheWraplink
• Varietylink
• Wikipedia — background on Spider-Noir link
• Wikipedia — background on True Detective link