Stan Lee , was like a “surrealist father” to him, and that Stan the Man “guided” his childhood in ways he’ll never forget.

Making his mark on cinema with his consistently over-the-top roles and endearingly weird personality, Nicolas Cage is no stranger to stepping into the shoes of characters who originated on the comic , with Cage's most notable superhero roles as Marvel’s Ghost Rider, Spider-Man Noir (both in the animated and soon-to-be live-action space), Kick-Ass’s Big Daddy, and his CGI-only cameo as Superman in The Flash, solidifying him as an actor who can truly do it all.

In an exclusive People interview with the Madden actor from early 2024, Nicolas Cage reveals that one of Marvel Comics’ greatest creators, if not the greatest creator in Marvel’s long history as a comic book company, Stan Lee, was not only "like a surrealist father to me,” but also "had a big influence on the way I look at the creative process,” turning Stan into an integral part in making Nic Cage who he is today.

Nicolas Cage Reveals That Stan Lee Was Like a “Surrealist Father” to Him When He Was Younger

According to a 2024 Interview With People

Speaking with the Renfield actor at the 51st Saturn Awards, Cage explains how meeting Stan for the first time was “a big moment,” and recalled how Stan was “wonderful, “friendly,” “kind,” and “warm.” Continuing, Cage reveals that Stan "actually cared about what I was up to, what I was doing, he'd come over to the house for dinner and we'd talk about ideas.” Mentioning next how he wanted to collaborate with Stan for years but wasn’t able to before Stan’s 2018 death, Cage then compares Stan to Walt Disney as someone who “changed the culture around the world the most.”

Going on to say, "He kind of guided my childhood” and that he has “a picture of me and Stan hugging,” Cage dives deeper itting, "As a child, at the most impressionable age, that was the one that really taught me to read and to look at life differently,” putting Cage in the same boat as most, if not all, of the people who have been affected by Stan Lee’s stories at some point in their lives, along with the gorgeous illustrations that have accompanied Stan’s words by countless talented artists over the years — Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko especially.

Nicolas Cage Says Meeting Stan Lee Was Something That Affected Him as a Comic Lover and a Person

Cage Has Portrayed Multiple Comic Book Characters During His Career

From Stan Lee’s work co-creating nearly all of the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, and countless more heroes and villains, it’s easy to see why Nicolas Cage would consider Stan a father figure, at least in a creative and “surrealist” sense. Acting as the driving force behind practically all of Marvel Comics’ best and most popular characters, Stan influenced not only the creators who came after him in the comic book industry, but as Nic Cage makes abundantly clear in this interview, people from all walks of life, careers, backgrounds, and locations, too.

Nicolas Cage also voiced Dr. Tenma in the Astro Boy movie.

As a bonus, Cage notes how he has one of Joe Shuster’s “first original drawings of the Superman character” — an illustration Shuster once gave to a fan — with Cage calling it "a beautiful thing,” further itting he has it placed on his piano at home. Making sure to balance out his love for Marvel with a piece of DC Comics history, it can’t be denied that Nicolas Cage is a proper nerd and champion for the influential stories and iconic images the comic industry is known for, making him something more than just Stan Lee’s biggest fan and metaphorical son.

Source: People