The first look at the comedy featuring Nicolas Cage as a fictionalized version of himself is available in the Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent trailer. Along with Cage, the picture stars Pedro Pascal from The Mandalorian, Sharon Horgan from Game Night, Tiffany Haddish from The Card Counter, Jacob Scipio from Bad Boys for Life, and Neil Patrick Harris. The meta action comedy is directed by Tom Gormican and based on a scenario co-written by Kevin Etten and produced by Mike Nilon, Kevin Turren, and Nicolas Cage.

CREDIT: KATALIN VERMES/LIONSGATE

Lionsgate premiered the first trailer for the film on Tuesday, providing a laugh-out-loud peek at the new comedy, which will be released on April 22.

Cage has been making his way back to us, whether through tiny roles in huge films (Teen Titans Go to the Movies, Into the Spider-Verse) or renowned performances in indie films (Mandy, Pig). Cage’s return continues with the announcement that he has signed on to act as Dracula alongside Nicholas Hoult and Awkwafina in Chris McKay’s Renfield.

With Tiffany Haddish’s CIA agent enlisting Cage’s help to apprehend the wanted drug dealer, as well as plenty of self-referential humor that mocks everything from the star’s financial woes to his biggest, best, and most successful films, this thing looks positively, undeniably insane, which means there’s a good chance it’ll be fantastic.

Cage plays Nick Cage in the film The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, a fictionalized version of the Oscar winner who is currently bankrupt and lacking creative fulfillment in his profession. With little alternatives, Cage accepts a $1 million offer from Mexican billionaire superfan Javi to attend his birthday celebration, despite learning from CIA officer Vivian about the risks Javi presents to him and his family. He must live up to his own legacy and embody some of his most iconic and adored on-screen personalities in order to save them all.

CREDIT: LIONSGATE

Cage’s ex-wife is played by Sharon Horgan, while his daughter is played by Lily Sheen, a newbie.

“[‘Nick Cage’] is an invented version of Nic Cage. 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. I’m feeling pretty good about things,” Cage, 57, told Entertainment Weekly.

He went on to say: “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.”

We can state with certainty that Nicolas Cage will never see The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.

“It’s just too much of a whacked-out trip for me,” he told Collider in September. This is reportedly due to filmmaker Tom Gormican’s desire for Cage to play himself in a far more severe role than he typically does. “I’m really [made of] quiet, meditative, thoughtful moments. I’m not this neurotic, high-strung, anxiety-ridden guy all the time,” he said.

“I said ‘Tom, that’s not really me. I’m really [made of] quiet, meditative, thoughtful moments. I’m not this neurotic, high-strung, anxiety-ridden guy all the time.’ But he said, ‘Well, neurotic Cage is the best Cage,’ ” the actor recalled. “I said, ‘Okay, okay. Let’s go, man. I’ll do what you want.’ I won’t see it. But I do hope you enjoy it.”