Nicolas Cage recently encountered a harrowing brush with death. During the filming of his latest venture, "The Surfer," the 61-year-old actor confessed to being "utterly shattered" while honing his surfing skills for a daring stunt that could have fatally claimed him. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Cage, who portrays a businessman yearning to repurchase his childhood beach house in Australia, recounted, "I've tried surfing before, but each attempt has left me completely shattered."
"On Sunset Beach, I embarked on a surfing lesson. My instructor handed me a short board, and I protested, 'I need a long board!'" Cage elaborated, describing a perilous incident where he was overwhelmed by waves and entangled in a rip tide. "My board, which theydubbed a 'tombstone' due to its triangular shape, emerged from the water, with only its tip visible. As I tumbled and clung to the leash, death loomed closer than ever," he continued. "With a young child now, I'm not sure I want to pursue this anymore."
Cage, whose illustrious career spans over four decades, had previously hinted at his intention to retire. In an interview with Uproxx in 2023, he expressed, "After 45 years and over 100 films, I feel I've conveyed what I needed to through cinema. I aspire to bow out gracefully and bid farewell."
"I foresee doing perhaps three or four more films before transitioning to other mediums to express my acting prowess," he added. "Ideally, I'd exit on a triumphant note, akin to 'Dream Scenario.' Yet, obligations bind me to fulfill existing contracts. Hence, we'll see where the journey leads. From now on, I'll be stringent in choosing my projects. But to embark on another film, I seek to explore different formats."
What lies at the end of his journey? "To retire, surf, sip red wine, and savor spaghetti," he told EW with a touch of whimsy.
