Nicolas Cage has left an indelible mark on Hollywood thanks to his versatility and particular acting style. However, his career could have taken very different directions.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, the 62-year-old actor revealed the reason why top directors in the industry, especially Christopher Nolan, have stopped seeking him for their projects.

As the protagonist of “Spider-Noir” explained, it all comes down to a question of wounded pride. "Most of them get their feelings hurt and don't call you back. It's happened to me a million times," Cage admitted candidly.

The rift with Nolan began when Cage rejected a role in the psychological thriller “Insomnia” (2002), one of the director's first major productions after the success of “Memento,” and which ended up starring Al Pacino and Robin Williams. Since he declined that offer, the director of “Oppenheimer” cut off all communication with him.

This “blacklist” is not exclusive to Nolan. The actor revealed that he has experienced identical situations with figures such as Woody Allen and Paul Thomas Anderson, who also stopped contacting him after receiving a negative response in the initial stages of their respective careers.

In contrast, Cage praised David O. Russell, calling him the only filmmaker with “a lot of class” who called him back after a previous rejection. Thanks to that gesture, Cage will star in the director's next biographical film, “Madden,” which will be released later this year.