Nicolas Cage has suggested that his working relationship with Amazon may be over after revealing that he refused to sign an artificial intelligence waiver for Spider-Noir. Speaking at New York Comic Con on October 10, 2026, the Oscar-winning actor criticised the company’s enthusiasm for AI technology and questioned whether he would collaborate with the studio again. However, the discussion also brought an unexpected career update, with Cage strongly hinting that he could join HBO’s True Detective for its fifth season.
During his Spotlight panel, Cage described Amazon as a company heavily invested in artificial intelligence before explaining why its approach conflicts with his own views.
“I am not an AI-friendly actor, so it’s like, connect those dots!” Cage said. “I’m probably not going to be working with that studio again, but that’s okay.”
The actor also revealed that he declined to sign a waiver allowing AI use in connection with Spider-Noir, although the precise terms of that agreement have not been publicly disclosed.
Why Nicolas Cage Refused the Spider-Noir AI Waiver
Cage’s comments arrive just weeks after Amazon cancelled Spider-Noir following its first season.
The Marvel-inspired detective series premiered in May 2026, featuring Cage as Ben Reilly, a private investigator confronting his past as a masked superhero in 1930s New York.
Despite receiving positive reviews and attracting approximately 2.6 billion viewing minutes during its first six weeks, the show was cancelled in September. It also earned 11 Emmy nominations, making the decision particularly surprising.
However, there is no confirmed evidence connecting the cancellation to Cage’s refusal to sign the AI waiver.
His comments instead highlight the growing disagreement in Hollywood over how studios should use performers’ digital likenesses.
Under SAG-AFTRA’s 2026 television and theatrical agreements, actors have strengthened protections involving AI-generated replicas and synthetic performers. These provisions address consent, compensation and the circumstances under which artificial performances can be used.
Cage’s position appears more personal. Rather than embracing AI-assisted performance, he expressed interest in working with younger filmmakers who are building projects through traditional creative methods.
Nicolas Cage Hints at True Detective Season 5 Role
While discussing his future, Cage unexpectedly suggested that his next television project could be HBO’s acclaimed crime anthology.
“I think I might do a season of ‘True Detective,'” he told the Comic Con audience.
He then jokingly acknowledged that his agent might not appreciate the premature announcement.
The possibility is particularly interesting because True Detective Season 5 is being developed under Night Country showrunner Issa López, with the upcoming story reportedly set around New York’s Jamaica Bay area.
However, HBO has not officially confirmed Cage’s casting, and his precise role remains unknown.
If the deal moves forward, it would mark another significant television project for an actor whose career has largely centred on films.
For now, Cage’s future with Amazon appears uncertain, while his possible involvement in True Detective offers a more promising development. His remarks also underline a larger industry question: how much control should performers retain over their identities as artificial intelligence becomes more deeply embedded in Hollywood production?
