Prisoners of the Ghostlandis not your average post-apocalyptic samurai Western with an Oscar-winning lead actor.
“Social relevance!”
the actor tells EW.
Nicolas Cage and Tak Sakaguchi in ‘Prisoners of the Ghostland’.RLJE Films
“These times are very sensitive, man.
You don’t want to do anything that could offend the opposite sex.
I think that kind of speaks volumes, especially now.”
Nicolas Cage in ‘Prisoners of the Ghostland’.Toshio Watanabe/RLJE Films
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did you get involved withPrisoners of the Ghostland?
NICOLAS CAGE:It came directly to me from Sono-san.
I call him the Warlock of Cinema.
Sofia Boutella, Jai West, and Nicolas Cage in ‘Prisoners of the Ghostland’.Toshio Watanabe/RLJE Films
I was so galvanized to walk around in his vision and his world.
I never questioned him.
If anything, I protected him.
Nick Cassavetes and Nicolas Cage in ‘Prisoners of the Ghostland’.Toshio Watanabe/RLJE Films
Sion Sono had a heart attack before you were initially due to start shooting the film.
Hetold methat you were the one who suggested moving the production to Japan.
Sono-san’s first meeting with me, we were going to shoot it in the Mexican desert.
Poster for ‘Prisoners of the Ghostland’.RLJE Films
He very much wanted that look.
I hope I never go through anything like that.
I said to him, “Let’s not take any unnecessary risks.
I want to go to Japan, and let’s do the movie at home, okay?”
Because he’s not only a great visionary, he’s also my friend.
He’s a nice man, and I genuinely care about him.
The movie got delayed a year because of that scare.
I said, “Just stay at home with your doctor and let’s make the movie.”
And he said, “Okay.”
What was the shoot like?
Listen, I was just happy to be there.
I was just happy to be in Japan.
I’m a big believer in what I call the genius loci of the place, right?
That’s Latin for “the genie of the place.”
I think that where you are informs performance.
It gets more difficult the older we get.
So I have to find new ways of expressing myself, new challenges.
kindly don’t say the word “retirement” Mr Cage!
No, no, no.
That can’t happen.
So I’m never going to retire.
Where are we now, 117 movies?
I go, “I got about 100, how many you got?”
“I got 40.
So you got twice as much as me?”
“Well, I didn’t know that, Jerry.”
You have a lot of scenes in the film with Sofia Boutella.
What was it like working with her?
Again, I was on a high, because there’s nobody better.
I mean, her performance inClimaxis extraordinary.
I think she’s probably the best out there.
I was very excited to meet her and work with her.
I do think she is a genius and a total artist.
Oh man, I work out to it!
I get on the elliptical and I play the soundtrack!
I mean, they’re kind of like little nightmares, but, boy, is he great.
The film also features aFace/Offreunion with yourself andNick Cassavetes.
Was that your idea to get him involved?
But he brings it, man, he brings so much to his movie performances.
I mean, he really cares.
I was very happy that he was in the movie with me.
He’a great guy.
I was just surrounded by a great group.
All actors are my brothers.
I don’t have competition with them.
There are no small parts, and I want them to feel that appreciation.
I don’t agree, because I want it to be genuine.
The tears are real.
But I mean, I’m surprised as you are that quote made it on the poster.
I actually said that before I even shot the movie.
But that’s fine by me.
[Laughs] Go, man, go!
If you want to use it, use it!
