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[XiaNaphryz]

Hollywood Reporter - Nicolas Cage Comic-Book Heist to Become Movie at Lionsgate:

The story of how Nicolas Cage lost his rare comic book featuring the first appearance of Superman may finally be told. At least Hollywood’s version of it.

Lionsgate has picked up Action No. 1, a heist comedy from writers and Reno 911! creators Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon. The duo also is producing along with Peter Principato and Paul Young.

The story revolves around a group of nerds who attempt to steal Cage's copy of Action Comics No. 1, the landmark 1938 comic that introduced the world to the Man of Steel.

The theft of Cage’s comic made real-world headlines in 2000. The issue was missing until 2011, when it was discovered among the contents of an abandoned storage locker. It sold for a record $2.1 million at auction in November. To comic-book fans, the story of the book’s theft and its ultimate recovery is as thrilling as any tale of a stolen Monet or Degas.

The part of Cage was written with the real Cage in mind, but at this stage, it's unlikely that Cage will play himself. Jason Statham's name has surfaced in connection with the project, but sources say he is not involved. (It was not known who Statham would play; the actor already played the leader of a heist in The Bank Job but has yet to tackle the role of a comics fanboy.)

Nerds breaking into fortresses or stealing prized objects is not a new subgenre. Fanboys, the 2009 road comedy directed by Kyle Newman, featured a trio ofStar Wars superfans attempting to sneak into George Lucas’ ranch to see The Phantom Menace. Comic-Con, a spec script by Matthew Sullivan and Michael Diliberti that generated some buzz a few years ago, was about geeks executing a heist during the annual Comic-Con convention to save their favorite comic-book shop.

Cage, Statham, Lennon and Garant are repped by CAA. Lennon and Garant, whose feature credits include Night at the Museum and Balls of Fury, are additionally repped by Principato Young and Jackoway Tyerman.

AVClub's coverage of the story:

Considering Nicolas Cage has been playing the part of “Nicolas Cage” in both his movies and his real life for many years now, perhaps he senses that playing the part of “Nicolas Cage playing the part of Nicolas Cage” could cause some sort of total metaphysical collapse that swallows the known universe. So in a way, Nicolas Cage is just saving the world again.

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

I wonder if there will be a nest of birds protecting the vault.

 

[TheChewyWaffles]

I nominate John Travolta to play Cage.

 

[gutshot]

The theft of Cage’s comic made real-world headlines in 2000. The issue was missing until 2011, when it was discovered among the contents of an abandoned storage locker. It sold for a record $2.1 million at auction in November.

I'm going to assume it was Cage who eventually sold it and pocketed the money? Because the way it reads, it almost sounds like whoever ended up finding it 11 years later put it up for auction instead of returning it to Cage.

 

[rekameohs]

Morgan Freeman please

 

[TheContact]

 

[Darklord]

Nick Cage isn't like anyone else though. Jason Statham? Might as well get Rhianna to play him at that point.

 

[Fixed1979]

 

[marrec]

I nominate John Travolta to play Cage.

I approve of this post.

Nic Cage is my favorite actor, so if anyone is going to play him it SHOULD be Cage at his craziest.

If not though, John Travolta.

 

[Kyoufu]

I nominate John Travolta to play Cage.

Now I feel like watching Face/Off again.

 

[bengraven]

This is kind of a stupid idea for a movie.

Unless they're going to be purposely ridiculous when it comes to Cage. Like he's tracking down the nerds Taken-style.

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

This is kind of a stupid idea for a movie.

Unless they're going to be purposely ridiculous when it comes to Cage. Like he's tracking down the nerds Taken-style.

I like this.

"I have... a particular set of skills."

 

[strafer]

Go do Con Air 2 instead.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

I'm going to assume it was Cage who eventually sold it and pocketed the money? Because the way it reads, it almost sounds like whoever ended up finding it 11 years later put it up for auction instead of returning it to Cage.

I believe that's correct - Cage went ahead and got another copy in the interim, so the guy who found it went ahead and sold it. I might be misremembering though.

 

[Tucah]

This sounds like it could be fun if Nic Cage played an over the top version of himself. Without him this sounds like an awful idea.

 

[Ultimadrago]

His true Earthly purpose.

 

[levious]

This is kind of a stupid idea for a movie.

Unless they're going to be purposely ridiculous when it comes to Cage. Like he's tracking down the nerds Taken-style.

given that it's coming from people from The State it will certainly be ridiculous.

 

[xbhaskarx]

To comic-book fans, the story of the book’s theft and its ultimate recovery is as thrilling as any tale of a stolen Monet or Degas.

Did they just compare a mass-produced comic book to real works of art?

 

[ToxicAdam]

Imagine the elation of bidding on a storage locker, then finding a million dollar comic book in it.

Then imagine the depression when you find out it's stolen property.


fuck.

 

[Plywood]

I like this.

"I have... a particular set of skills."

I need this now.

 

[Volimar]

You don't say?

 

[Conciliator]

They should have Nicolas Cage play one of the thieves, and then have Ryan Gosling play Nicolas Cage.