Nicolas Cage’s Unexpected Exit from The Wrestler: The Untold Story Behind Mickey Rourke’s Iconic Role
Nicolas Cage was supposed to play the lead role in the movie “The Wrestler”, but decided to leave the project before filming began. Here’s why!
There are some films in which you could not imagine any actor other than the one who appears in the lead role. This is particularly the case with The Wrestler, a drama about a has-been wrestler preparing for his final match in the ring – a role tailor-made for an actor of Mickey Rourke’s caliber.
His performance also allowed him to sign an incredible comeback in Hollywood, before his demons caught up with him and harmed his career again. But another actor than Mickey Rourke almost lent his features to Randy Robinson, nicknamed “the Ram”.
Mickey Rourke is perfect for the role… but not bankable enough!
Having fallen back into anonymity after years of wandering (and a failed reconversion as a professional boxer), Mickey Rourke no longer had sufficient fame in the early 2000s to shoulder the budget of a film of this ambition.
For this reason, Darren Aronofsky had to resort to choosing another actor: Nicolas Cage. Coming from the same generation of actors, Nicolas Cage and Mickey Rourke both appeared in Francis Ford Coppola’s Rusty James, their only collaboration until then.
“I made a point of calling Mickey, even though Darren – and I don’t know why – didn’t want me to do it and I asked him what he thought, I wanted his blessing” Nicolas Cage told the microphone ofODE in 2009. “Mickey gave me his approval and I accepted and started getting ready.”
A muscular problem causes Nicolas Cage to abandon the film
The replacement was a heartbreak for Darren Aronofsky, who had written the character of Randy Robinson with Mickey Rourke in mind. Luckily, Nicolas Cage ultimately decided to drop out of the project during the film’s prep, judging that he was unable to naturally achieve the necessary musculature for the role.
This sudden withdrawal put the production against the wall, a sense of urgency that benefited Mickey Rourke. During an interview, Darren Aronofsky also suggested that this withdrawal was calculated by Nicolas Cage, in order to help his old friend land the role that was due to him. Rewarded by a Golden Lion at Venice, The Wrestler then earned Mickey Rourke a Golden Globe for Best Actor, and an Oscar nomination.
The Wrestler movie starring Mickey Rourke is now available on the Max streaming service.
Discover the list of films currently available on the platform!
