Nicolas Cage says he probably won’t work with Amazon again after refusing AI waiver

Nicolas Cage has revealed that he refused to sign an artificial intelligence waiver while working on Spider-Noir, saying he will probably not work with Amazon again.

The actor discussed the issue at New York Comic-Con while reflecting on the cancelled Prime Video series, in which he played Spider-Man Noir. Cage made clear that his concerns about AI were significant enough for him to reject the waiver rather than give permission for its use.

Cage drew a line over AI

Cage's comments offer a particularly high-profile example of a performer pushing back against the way artificial intelligence is being introduced into entertainment.

The actor said Amazon is very supportive of AI, but that he does not share the company's enthusiasm. He also indicated that his refusal to sign the waiver has affected how he views any future relationship with Amazon.

That makes the story about more than one actor and one production. It highlights how AI is increasingly becoming a contractual issue for performers.

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Why performers are concerned

Artificial intelligence can potentially be used to reproduce or manipulate an actor's appearance, voice or performance. The technology is developing quickly enough that performers are increasingly being asked to consider what they are willing to authorise before a production begins.

Cage's decision shows why those discussions matter. Once an actor has agreed to particular AI permissions, the technology could potentially be used in ways that were not part of the traditional understanding of a performance contract.

The question is therefore increasingly about control as much as technology.

A bigger Hollywood debate

Cage's comments come at a time when studios and performers are still negotiating the boundaries of AI. Some companies see it as another production tool, while actors and other creatives have pushed for clearer consent and protections around their work.

His position does not mean AI caused the cancellation of Spider-Noir, and Cage did not make that claim. But his comments make clear that he regarded the AI issue as important enough to affect his willingness to work with Amazon again.

For a major actor to publicly reject an AI waiver, the message to Hollywood is difficult to miss: performers are not necessarily prepared to give studios unlimited permission to use new technology on their work.