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.
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.
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."
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.
"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