Nicolas Cage is in a league of his own. He's done cheesy action films (Con Air), spirited family dramas shrouded in mystery (National Treasure), absurd movies of the vampiric variety (Renfield), and a even self-spoof flick (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent).
You could say, he is genre-less.
But one genre that is less without Nic Cage is the classic superhero category, and and Hollywood's most versatile actor isn't about to change that anytime soon.
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When Cage was recently chatting to Variety about his career and the possibility of seeing him in a Marvel Cinematic Universe film, his response was simple.
He said: "I don’t need to be in the MCU, I’m Nic Cage."
So, there you go. Bigger than Marvel. Bigger than DC.
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Bigger than whatever would happen if the two were mushed together in some sort of bizarre love child scenario; which we can only assume is the dream of neckbearded comic book megafans around the globe.
He's Nic Cage.
In all seriousness, Cage has reached a point in his career where he can do whatever the hell he wants.
He's a member of the Coppola family, for Cage's sake. Hollywood is in their blood.
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And, despite not donning the protective cloak of the Coppola name and therefore shirking the title of 'nepo baby', he's a massive talent all on his own.
Even though he is in no rush to join a Marvel film, Cage does give credit where credit's due.
"I’ve gotta be nice about Marvel movies, because I named myself after a Stan Lee character named Luke Cage," he told Variety.
"What am I going to do, put Marvel movies down? Stan Lee is my surrealistic father."
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He added: "He named me."
He was then asked about the state of the modern day superhero movie: a box office juggernaut chock full of special effects, wonder, loads of action, and a never ending storyline that comes out in 'phases'.
Some in Hollywood have been getting frustrated with the perpetual nature of the superhero movie - famed director Quentin Tarantino, for example - but Cage is far more forgiving than the fellow that gave us Pulp Fiction.
"I understand what the frustration is," Cage told Variety.
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"I get it.
"But I think there’s plenty of room for everybody.
"I’m seeing movies like Tár [a psychological drama film written and directed by Todd Field that stars Cate Blanchett]. I’m seeing all kinds of artistic and independently driven movies."
He added: "I think there’s plenty of room for everybody."
Rachel Lang