The film where Nicolas Cage plays a fictionalised version of himself is finally set to arrive in April next year, following a lengthy delay due to COVID. Cage himself has previously said that he won’t be able to watch the film — apparently it’s just “too bizarre” — but, for the rest of us, the first trailer has arrived.

Directed by Tom Gormican, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent sees “Nick Cage” get tangled up with a crime boss and Cage superfan named Javi (played by Pedro Pascal), after falling on hard times and accepting a million dollars to attend his birthday party.

“(Nick Cage) is an invented version of Nic Cage,” the real Nicolas Cage tells Entertainment Weekly. “The character is feeling unfulfilled and contending with the rejection that can happen so often in the small town that is Hollywood.” 

“It’s not me,” the Prisoners of the Ghostland actor clarifies. “I’m feeling pretty good about things.”

As if playing a fictional version of himself wasn’t meta enough already, Cage also plays Nicky, a Wild At Heart-era version of himself who appears in his imagination. “He’s got the lanky long hair,” Cage tells EW. “He’s just constantly riding Nick about his career choices.”

Echoing his previous reluctance about acting as a fake version of himself, IRL Cage goes on: “I wasn't too excited about the idea of playing myself, but when Tom sent me this script, Nicky reminded me a little of Jerry Lewis’ Buddy Love in The Nutty Professor. I always admired what he did with that movie. For me, Nicky steals the show.”

Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent also stars Neil Patrick Harris as Cage’s agent, Sharon Horgan and Lily Sheen as his ex-wife and daughter, and Tiffany Haddish as a CIA agent who ropes him into an undercover operation. The comedy thriller is scheduled to hit cinemas on April 22, 2022.

Watch the trailer below.