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It has been over 15 years since Moonstruck was released in theaters. The film was made with a modest budget of $14 million and grossed over $120 million worldwide. Because of this, Cher solidified herself as not only a singing phenom but a movie star as well. For the virtually unknown Nicolas Cage, who would eventually become not only a star of blockbusters but also weird cult classics, it was a film that launched him into stardom.
Given the critical acclaim and box-office success of Moonstruck, no one would ever guess that there was a time when film executives did not know if the movie would ever make it to production. Nicolas Cage’s reluctance to join the cast was a significant problem. Yet as soon as Cher and Cage were on-screen together, it was clear there were no other actors who would have brought to life Ronny and Loretta the way the Renfield and Burlesque stars did.
Why Nicolas Cage Did Not Want To Be In Moonstruck
At the time that Cage was offered the male lead in Moonstruck, he was still a virtual unknown. He was also of the age that he was not ready to be typecast as a leading man in a romantic comedy. As such, he fought tooth and nail to not do the film.
Fortunately for one of the most underrated actors of all time’s career, Cage eventually agreed to do the role. And the rest, as they say, is history.
“I really didn’t want to make [Moonstruck],” Cage explained. “I wanted to make Vampire’s Kiss, because I was still trying to live my punk rock dreams. I did not want to be in a big splashy romantic comedy with Cher.”
Cage explained that as soon as he read the script, he was turned off from it. And because of this, it did not matter who was in the film. The Ghost Rider star wanted as far away from Moonstruck as he could possibly get.
“I was angry and rebellious…I read the screenplay and thought, ‘I would never pay money to see this film’!” Cage stated.
Eventually, Cage came to his senses and agreed to do the film. And once he and the director, Norman Jewison compromised on how the pulp culture icon’s character should be portrayed, cinematic magic was made.
Cher Refused To Be In Moonstruck Without Nicolas Cage
Before Cage was approached to play Ronnie, Cher was already cast as the female lead. And while film executives had their ideas as to who should play the leading man, the Mask star would not budge on who she wanted alongside her on screen.
Therefore, there was only one way to keep the iconic singer on the project and that was to get Cage signed as soon as possible.
“Cher and I both admired Nicolas’ work in ‘Peggy Sue Got Married,'”Jewison explained. “But the main reason she felt he was right for the part is because, like the character of Ronnie, Nicolas struck her as a tormented soul.”
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Cher did screen tests with both Cage and Peter Gallagher. And while executives liked Gallagher better for the role, Cher refused to budge.
“I did the screen test with him and they didn’t really want him,” Cher explained. “I said, ‘Alright, but then you’re not going to get me.'”
Executives ultimately decided to go with the Academy Award winner, and the decision would go on to be affectionately known as the “Nicolas Cage Clause.”
What Convinced Nicolas Cage To Finally Say Yes To The Film
Being the leading man in a romantic film that would potentially skyrocket his career was not the motivation Cage needed to get him to sign onto Moonstruck. Instead, the reason was far more simple.
The National Treasure star wanted to be in a film that spoke to him. And what is more interesting still is that Cage knew the movie would be a box-office flop. But it was not until Cage’s agent gave him the green light to star in Vampire’s Kiss, a film that involved stunts that could have ended his life, that Cage agreed to be in Moonstruck.
Cage explained in an interview that he made a deal with his agent; agreeing to do Moonstruck so that he could do Vampire’s Kiss, a “punk rock” movie.
“One of the reasons I did ‘Moonstruck’ was because I thought it would allow me to take more of a chance with my next film, a low-budget black comedy called ‘Vampire’s Kiss’ that hardly has mass commercial appeal written all over it,” Cage explained to the Los Angeles Times.
The Windtalkers star went on to say, “Everyone told me not to do it, but the script grabbed me by the collar and screamed, ‘If you don’t do this movie, you’re a coward!’”
While Vampire’s Kiss was not a hit, it was the tool that got Cage to star in Moonstruck. And had that not happened, there is no telling if Cage’s career would have had the same meteoric rise that it did without the film on his resume.
