Posted 03.09.12 by Chris Usually, treasures like diamonds, bank vaults, and other things worth millions of dollars are the subjects sought after in heist movies. Typically, comic books don't fit the bill of the loot of a heist movie — that is unless, it's a comic book that was once owned by Nicolas Cage.
In 2000, several very expensive comic books were stolen from Cage's home, including the very rare Action Comics No. 1, which any comic book geek could tell you is the first ever appearance of Superman (there are only 100 known copies in existence). Cage had purchased the near-mint copy in 1997 for $150,000. Luckily for Cage, the comic book was insured. Fast forward to 2011, Cage's copy of Action Comics No 1. was discovered in an abandoned San Fernando Valley storage locker. Despite Cage's attempt to buy back the copy, the new owner auctioned off the comic book for a record $2.16M in November.
Now, the saga of Cage's Superman comic book is turning into a movie. THR reports that Lionsgate has picked up Action No. 1, a heist comedy Reno 911! creators Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon.
Garant and Lennon, who have also penned Night at the Museum, Herbie Fully Loaded, and The Pacifier, originally wrote their script with Cage in mind for playing himself but apparently Cage is out of the picture at this point. Jason Statham's name is being discussed as a possible lead but nothing is concrete as of yet. Though, it would be interesting (and highly entertaining) to see Cage give a meta performance.