Nicolas Cage talks turning down roles in The Lord of The Rings and The Matrix

Nicolas Cage has had one hell of a career that has seen him go from respected prestige actor, bonafide action star, and someone who takes on just about any role because he feels like it or maybe needs to pay off a few debts. Whatever the reason, Cage is still respected by fans and many in the industry and given the fact it seems he has done just about everything, the actor is talking about why he actually turned down roles in The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix.

During a chat with People, Cage talked about why he turned down a chance to appear in The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix. As it turns out, it’s a pretty legit reason that has a lot to do with being there for his family. He says he has always put family first over his career and, in the case of The Lord of the Rings, he would have relocated away from his family in New Zealand for three years. That simply wasn’t going to work for the actor. The same would’ve happened with The Matrix, which would’ve meant a move to Australia. Check out what Cage had to say below!

“First and foremost … there’s no version of Nic Cage in reality that doesn’t want to spend time with his children. There’s no version of Nic Cage that didn’t put family first over career. I turned down Lord of the Rings and I turned down Matrix because I didn’t want to go to New Zealand for three years or Australia for three years because I needed to be home with my son Weston, that’s a fact.”

Cage’s son Weston would’ve been around nine years old at the time the actor would’ve had to shoot The Lord of the Rings if he accepted the role. That’s a pretty young age to have a parent relocate for that many years and so far away. Weston could’ve certainly visited Cage while he was away or the actor could’ve come back on breaks but he wouldn’t have been 100% present when his son really needed him the most.

The big mystery is what roles Cage was up for in either film. He didn’t reveal that during the interview but it should be fun for his fans to speculate. What role in those movies seems tailor-made for Nicolas Cage before he had to turn them down?

What are YOUR thoughts on Nicolas Cage turning down roles in The Lord of the Rings and The Matrix?