- Primary Subject: Nicolas Cage (and his casting history with the Spider-Man franchise)
- Key Update: Nicolas Cage revealed he turned down the role of Green Goblin in Sam Raimi's 2002 Spider-Man.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: May 28, 2026
- Quick Answer: Nicolas Cage passed on playing Green Goblin because he chose to film Adaptation instead, a decision that ultimately earned him an Academy Award nomination.
Nicolas Cage recently explained why he turned down the role of Green Goblin in Sam Raimi's first Spider-Man movie.
The Oscar-winning actor is taking on his major first live-action superhero role in the new series Spider-Noir, playing the 1930s-noir variant of the web-slinger. His performance has been acclaimed by critics and fans, as they praised his pulpy take on the titular superhero.
However, as it turns out, he almost played a villain in the Spider-Man world back in the past.
Why Nicolas Cage Passed on Playing Green Goblin in Spider-Man?
In an interview with Variety, Cage confirmed that he had talks with Sam Raimi to plan Norman Osbourne/Green Goblin in the first Spider-Man movie.
However, he turned down the role, and Willem Dafoe ended up playing the iconic villain. He passed on the offer due to his commitment to filming Adaptation.
"Yeah. Sam and I had a great lunch, and I did say during the lunch, 'Listen: whoever plays Spider-Man, let them do one scene where they’re crawling around like a spider when they’re alone, and it didn’t happen. He wanted me to do the Green Goblin," the Oscar winner said.
"I liked the idea of Sam Raimi, because of Evil Dead 1 and 2, and I wanted to work with him, but I had this other film called Adaptation."
He recalled a similar situation when he was offered to star in Dumb and Dumber, but he declined as he was already committed to Leaving Las Vegas.
"It happened with Jim [Carrey] and Dumb and Dumber, and I said, 'I’m going to do this other film called Leaving Las Vegas, and with Sam, I told him, 'I’m going to do Adaptation. Both those decisions were the right ones for me, and I’m happy with those results," Cage added.
After more than 20 years, Cage ended up joining a live-action Spider-Man universe by playing Spider-Man Noir (aka The Spider) in Spider-Noir. He also voiced a version of the character in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
What is Spider-Noir About?
Spider-Noir tells the story of Ben Reilly, a seasoned, down-on-his-luck private investigator in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life, following a deeply personal tragedy, as the city's one and only superhero.
The main cast includes Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Abraham Popoola, Karen Rodriguez, Jack Huston, and Brendan Gleeson. Recurring stars include Lukas Haas, Cameron Britton, Cary Christopher, Michael Kostroff, Scott MacArthur, Joe Massingill, Whitney Rice, Amanda Schull, Andrew Caldwell, Amy Aquino, Andrew Robinson, and Kai Caster.
All eight episodes of the first season are streaming globally on Prime Video. Viewers can watch it on "Authentic Black & White" or "True-Hue Full Color" format.
Keep it locked on Epicstream, your go-to site for film, TV, and celebrity coverage!